http://www.501st.com/mw501/index.php?title=Special:Contributions&feed=atom&limit=500&target=Crimson&year=&month=Databank - User contributions [en]2015-03-03T18:50:42ZFrom DatabankMediaWiki 1.16.5http://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-10-06T12:38:06Z<p>Crimson: Severl changes suggested by LDR incorporated.</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
[[Category:Legion Charter]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an international ''STAR WARS&amp;trade;'' costuming organization dedicated to celebrating the ''STAR WARS'' universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in ''STAR WARS'' through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for ''STAR WARS''-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that the members of the Legion have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) except by the privileges authorized to the organization by LFL. Members acknowledge and accept that they, by authorization, portray the characters of ''STAR WARS'' when in costume and act on behalf of the Legion. While representing the Legion, members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member may choose or will be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision or unit.<br />
#The 501st Legion reserves the right to deny or revoke membership at any time, based on any past criminal history as outlined in the [[OperationsProtocol|Operations Protocol]] and in accordance with the laws of the applicable country or region within.Notice of such denial or revocation will be filed with the 501st Legion Council.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the organization. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts are maintained by the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or, in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and will act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The office of the LCOG interprets and enforces club rules. The office of the LCOG serves as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, oversees disciplinary hearings, moderates Legion elections, and maintains the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The office of the LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The office of the LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The office of the LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The office of the LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The office of the LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
===Unit Officers===<br />
====Garrison Officers====<br />
<br />
# Garrison Commanding Officer (CO or GCO): The CO is elected by the Garrison membership. The CO is the chief administrator of the Garrison and is responsible for the operations of the Garrison and the coordination of events that occur within the Garrison's boundaries. The CO is responsible for maintaining communications with the Legion Council and Legion Command. The CO also appoints the Garrison officers and staff, and administers local forum rules. The CO is the principal representative of the Garrison membership on the Legion Council, &lt;ins&gt;and is responsible for assigning additional required Council representatives from the Garrison&lt;/ins&gt;. <br />
# Garrison Executive Officer (XO or GXO): The XO is appointed by the CO. The XO may perform duties as assigned by the CO, and will &lt;ins&gt;assume leadership of the Garrison&lt;/ins&gt; in the absence of the CO.<br />
# &lt;del&gt;Second Council Seat Typically the Garrison Executive Officer is the Second representative of the Garrison Membership on the Legion Council. However, the Garrison Commanding Officer may appoint a different officer or Garrison member to the position of council Second Seat.&lt;/del&gt; ''&lt;span style=&quot;color: red&quot;&gt;temporary note: removing this to allow for future changes as needed; number of reps per Garrison will be specified in Ops Protocol&lt;/span&gt;''<br />
# Garrison Membership Liaison (GML): The GML is appointed by the CO. The GML is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining Garrison member information in the Legion database. The GML reports to the CO and the LMO. For more information on the duties and responsibilities of the GML, see the [[GML Survival Guide]].<br />
# Garrison Public Relations Officer (GPRO): The GPRO is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The GPRO assists the GCO in promoting the Unit to the public and also may be called upon by the Legion PRO to assist in the public promotion of the Legion.<br />
# Garrison Web Liaison (GWL): The GWL is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The GWL assists the GML in the preparation and management of the Garrison Membership Profiles and is directly responsible for the processing and management of the Garrison Member Profile Images.<br />
<br />
&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000&quot;&gt;''The following section has been added entirely''&lt;/span&gt;<br />
=====Squad Officers=====<br />
# &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000&quot;&gt; Squad Leader (SL): The SL is elected by the Squad's membership. The SL is the event coordinator for the local area in which the Squad operates. The SL reports directly to the parent Garrison's leadership.<br />
&lt;/span&gt;<br />
<br />
====Outpost Officers====<br />
<br />
# Outpost Leader (OL): The OL of an Outpost is elected by the Outpost membership. The OL is the chief administrator of the Outpost and is responsible for the operations of the Outpost and the coordination of events that occur within the Outpost's boundaries. The OL is responsible for maintaining communications with the Legion Council and Legion Command. The OL also appoints any necessary Outpost officers and staff, and administers local forum rules. The OL is the principal representative of the Outpost membership on the Legion Council.<br />
<br />
==== Detachment Officers====<br />
# Detachment Leader (DL): &lt;ins&gt;The DL is elected by the Detachment membership. The DL is the chief administrator of the Detachment and is responsible for the operations of the Detachment and managing research and information about costume creation and construction. The DL also appoints any necessary Detachment officers and staff.&lt;/ins&gt; DLs are supervised and represented on the Council by the LMO. A DL has the following responsibilities:<br />
## Verify membership status in the Legion with the approved costume, and grant the appropriate access for active Legion members in good standing to detachments areas.<br />
## Monitor and moderate the Detachment forums, appointing additional moderators as needed.<br />
## Ensure that the Detachment Web site is properly maintained and the content therein is accurate and up to date.<br />
## Participate on the &lt;del&gt;DL forum as needed and when requested.&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;Legion forums and advise other DLs and GMLs as needed.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
## Maintain contact with the LMO and report any issue or controversy related to costuming.<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their currently assigned units.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the active members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the active members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate emergency election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may address egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed &lt;ins&gt;and supervised by Legion Command,&lt;/ins&gt; consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) &lt;del&gt;and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command&lt;/del&gt;.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal, signified by passing a two-thirds &lt;del&gt;super-&lt;/del&gt;majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals then require a two-thirds majority of the voting Legion membership to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted &lt;ins&gt;by Legion members to the CRC&lt;/ins&gt; at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft proposals must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the ''''STAR WARS'''' property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public unless authorized and be approved by Legion Command and Lucasfilm Ltd. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and its sale shall be forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing or distributing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the office of the Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation or sale of props, costumes, or costume parts or materials by anyone for sale to others. The Legion will not intervene in private sales or transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and misconduct. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating Legion rules or the tenets thereof is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary complainant serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion Captain of the Guard or a designated representative.<br />
# All hearings are conducted on the Legion forum, unless otherwise directed by the LCOG<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute or hearing, members have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer within 30 days. Any judgment by the Legion Commanding Officer following an appeal is final.<br />
<br />
==Article XI: Bylaws==<br />
<br />
# Bylaws are additional rules, processes, and procedures to manage regular operations, provide guidelines and instruction. The Bylaws set expectations of actions and behaviors in and for the Legion and its members. Bylaws are found in the document titled [[OperationsProtocol|Operations Protocol]].<br />
# Amendments, alterations, or repeal of bylaws may be proposed by active Legion members to the Charter Review Committee directly. <br />
# The CRC will follow the same review, acceptance/rejection, and Council consultation process as described for Charter Amendments in Article VIII. <br />
# Completed proposals will be presented to the Legion members for ratification. <br />
# Amendments to the bylaws require a simple majority of the voting members to pass. <br />
# If passed, the proposal is incorporated into the bylaws and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''<br />
{{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-10-06T11:33:17Z<p>Crimson: Incorporated all changes suggested by DEL/INS markup</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
[[Category:Legion Charter]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an international '''''STAR WARS&amp;trade;''''' costuming organization dedicated to celebrating the '''''STAR WARS''''' universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in '''''STAR WARS''''' through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that the members of the Legion have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of ''Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)'' except by the privileges authorized to the organization by ''Lucasfilm Ltd.'' Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization portray the characters of ''Star Wars'', when in costume and acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing The Legion members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member may choose or will be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision or unit.<br />
#The 501st Legion reserves the right to deny or revoke membership at any time, based on any past criminal history as outlined in the [[OperationsProtocol|Operations Protocol]] and in accordance with the laws of the applicable country or region within.Notice of such denial or revocation will be filed with the 501st Legion Council.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the organization. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and will act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The office of the LCOG interprets and enforces club rules. The office of the LCOG serves as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, oversees disciplinary hearings, moderates Legion elections, and maintains the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The office of the LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The office of the LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The office of the LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The office of the LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The office of the LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
===Unit Officers===<br />
====Garrison Officers====<br />
<br />
#Garrison Commanding Officer: (GCO or CO) The Garrison Commanding Officer is elected by the Garrison membership. The GCO is the chief administrator of the Garrison and is responsible for the smooth operations of the Garrison and the coordination of events. The Garrison Commanding Officer is responsible for maintaining communications with the Legion Council and Legion Command.The GCO also appoints the Garrison Officers and Staff, and administers local forum rules.The Garrison Commanding Officer is the principal representative of the Garrison Membership on the Legion Council. <br />
#Garrison Executive Officer: (GXO or XO) The GXO is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The GXO may perform duties as assigned by the GCO, and will act as Commanding Officer in the absence of the Garrison Commanding Officer.<br />
#Second Council Seat Typically the Garrison Executive Officer is the Second representative of the Garrison Membership on the Legion Council. However, the Garrison Commanding Officer may appoint a different officer or Garrison member to the position of council Second Seat.<br />
#Garrison Membership Liaison: (GML) The GML is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The Garrison membership Liaison is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining Garrison member information in the Legion database. The GML reports to the Garrison Commanding Officer and the Legion Membership Officer. For more information on the duties and responsibilities of the Garrison Membership Liaison see the GML Survival Guide.<br />
#Garrison Public Relations Officer: (GPRO) The GPRO is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The GPRO assists the GCO in promoting the Unit to the public and also may be called upon by the Legion PRO to assist in the public promotion of the Legion.<br />
#Garrison Web Liaison: (GWL) The GWL is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The GWL assists the GML in the preparation and management of the Garrison Membership Profiles and is directly responsible for the processing and management of the Garrison Member Profile Images. <br />
<br />
====Outpost Officers====<br />
<br />
#Outpost Leader (OL) The Outpost Leader is elected by the Outpost membership. The OL is the chief administrator of the Outpost and is responsible for the smooth operations of the Outpost and the coordination of events. The Outpost Leader is responsible for maintaining communications with the Legion Council and Legion Command.The OL also appoints the Outpost Officers and Staff, administers local forum rules. The Outpost Leader is the principal representative of the Outpost Membership on the Legion Council.<br />
<br />
==== Detachment Officers====<br />
# Detachment Leader (DL) Detachment leaders are supervised and represented on the Council by the LMO. A Detachment Leader has the following responsibilities:<br />
##Verify membership status in the Legion with the approved costume, and grant the appropriate access for active Legion members in good standing to detachments areas.<br />
##Monitor the detachment forums and moderate them, appointing additional moderators as needed.<br />
##Ensure that the detachments website is properly maintained and the content therein is accurate and up to date.<br />
##Participate on the DL forum as needed and when requested.<br />
##Maintain contact with the LMO and report any issue or controversy related to costuming.<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their currently assigned units.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the active members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the active members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may address egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals then require a two-thirds majority of the voting membership to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the ''Star Wars'' property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public unless authorized and be approved by Legion Command and Lucasfilm Ltd. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and its sale shall be forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing or distributing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the office of the Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation or sale of props, costumes, or costume parts or materials by anyone for sale to others. The Legion will not intervene in private sales or transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and misconduct. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating Legion rules or the tenets thereof is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary complainant serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion Captain of the Guard or a designated representative.<br />
# All hearings are conducted on the Legion forum, unless otherwise directed by the LCOG<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute or hearing, members have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer within 30 days. Any judgment by the Legion Commanding Officer following an appeal is final.<br />
<br />
==Article XI: Bylaws==<br />
<br />
# Bylaws are additional rules, processes, and procedures to manage regular operations, provide guidelines and instruction. The Bylaws set expectations of actions and behaviors in and for the Legion and its members. Bylaws are found in the document titled [[OperationsProtocol|Operations Protocol]].<br />
# Amendments, alterations, or repeal of bylaws may be proposed by active Legion members to the Charter Review Committee directly. <br />
# The CRC will follow the same review, acceptance/rejection, and Council consultation process as described for Charter Amendments in Article VIII. <br />
# Completed proposals will be presented to the Legion members for ratification. <br />
# Amendments to the bylaws require a simple majority of the voting members to pass. <br />
# If passed, the proposal is incorporated into the bylaws and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''<br />
{{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-10-05T11:57:15Z<p>Crimson: /* Article XI: Bylaws */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
[[Category:Legion Charter]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a&lt;ins&gt;n international&lt;/ins&gt; '''''STAR WARS&amp;trade;''''' &lt;del&gt;fan club&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt;costuming organization &lt;/ins&gt; dedicated to celebrating the '''''STAR WARS''''' universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in '''''STAR WARS''''' through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that &lt;del&gt;it's&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;the members of the Legion&lt;/ins&gt; &lt;del&gt;members&lt;/del&gt; have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of ''Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)'' except by the privileges authorized to the organization by ''Lucasfilm Ltd.'' Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization &lt;del&gt;represent the brand that is&lt;/DEL&gt; &lt;ins&gt; portray the characters of &lt;/ins&gt; ''Star Wars'', when in costume &lt;del&gt;or otherwise &lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;and&lt;/ins&gt; acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing &lt;del&gt; the ''Star Wars'' brand, &lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;The Legion &lt;/ins&gt;members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member &lt;ins&gt;may choose or will&lt;/ins&gt; be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision &lt;ins&gt;or unit&lt;/ins&gt;.<br />
#&lt;ins&gt;The 501st Legion reserves the right to deny or revoke membership at any time, based on any past criminal history as outlined in the [[OperationsProtocol|Operations Protocol]] and in accordance with the laws of the applicable country or region within.Notice of such denial or revocation will be filed with the 501st Legion Council.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the &lt;del&gt;club.&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt; organization.&lt;/ins&gt; The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and &lt;del&gt;reserves the authority to&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt; will&lt;/ins&gt; act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The office of the LCOG interprets and enforces club rules. The office of the LCOG serves as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, oversees disciplinary hearings, moderates Legion elections, and maintains the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The office of the LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The office of the LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The office of the LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The office of the LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The office of the LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
===Unit Officers===<br />
====Garrison Officers====<br />
<br />
#&lt;ins&gt;Garrison Commanding Officer: (GCO or CO) The Garrison Commanding Officer is elected by the Garrison membership. The GCO is the chief administrator of the Garrison and is responsible for the smooth operations of the Garrison and the coordination of events. The Garrison Commanding Officer is responsible for maintaining communications with the Legion Council and Legion Command.The GCO also appoints the Garrison Officers and Staff, and administers local forum rules.The Garrison Commanding Officer is the principal representative of the Garrison Membership on the Legion Council.&lt;/ins&gt; <br />
#&lt;ins&gt;Garrison Executive Officer: (GXO or XO) The GXO is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The GXO may perform duties as assigned by the GCO, and will act as Commanding Officer in the absence of the Garrison Commanding Officer.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
#Second Council Seat Typically the Garrison Executive Officer is &lt;del&gt;typically &lt;/del&gt;the Second representative of the Garrison Membership on the Legion Council. However, the Garrison Commanding Officer may appoint a different officer or Garrison member to the position of &lt;ins&gt;council &lt;/ins&gt;Second Seat.<br />
#Garrison Membership Liaison: (GML) The GML is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The Garrison membership Liaison is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining Garrison member information in the Legion database. The GML reports to the Garrison Commanding Officer and the Legion Membership &lt;del&gt;Liaison&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt; Officer&lt;/ins&gt;. For more information on the duties and responsibilities of the Garrison Membership Liaison see the GML Survival Guide.<br />
#&lt;ins&gt;Garrison Public Relations Officer: (GPRO) The GPRO is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The GPRO assists the GCO in promoting the Unit to the public and also may be called upon by the Legion PRO to assist in the public promotion of the Legion.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
#&lt;ins&gt;Garrison Web Liaison: (GWL) The GWL is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The GWL assists the GML in the preparation and management of the Garrison Membership Profiles and is directly responsible for the processing and management of the Garrison Member Profile Images. &lt;/ins&gt;<br />
<br />
====Outpost Officers====<br />
<br />
#Outpost Leader (OL) The Outpost Leader is elected by the Outpost membership. The OL is the chief administrator of the Outpost and is responsible for the smooth operations of the Outpost and the coordination of events. The Outpost Leader is responsible for maintaining communications with the Legion Council and Legion Command.The &lt;del&gt;LO&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;OL&lt;/ins&gt; also appoints the Outpost Officers and Staff, administers local forum rules. The Outpost Leader is the principal representative of the Outpost Membership on the Legion Council.<br />
<br />
==== Detachment Officers====<br />
#&lt;ins&gt; Detachment Leader (DL) Detachment leaders are supervised and represented on the Council by the LMO. A Detachment Leader has the following responsibilities:&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
##&lt;ins&gt;Verify membership status in the Legion with the approved costume, and grant the appropriate access for active Legion members in good standing to detachments areas.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
##&lt;ins&gt;Monitor the detachment forums and moderate them, appointing additional moderators as needed.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
##Ensure that the detachments website is properly maintained and the content &lt;del&gt;thereon&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt;therein&lt;/ins&gt; is accurate and up to date.<br />
##&lt;ins&gt;Participate on the DL forum as needed and when requested.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
##&lt;ins&gt;Maintain contact with the LMO and report any issue or controversy related to costuming.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their &lt;del&gt;respective jurisdictions.&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;currently assigned units.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the active members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the active members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may address egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals &lt;ins&gt;then&lt;/ins&gt; require a two-thirds majority of &lt;ins&gt;the&lt;/ins&gt; voting &lt;del&gt;members&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;membership&lt;/ins&gt; to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the ''Star Wars'' property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the &lt;ins&gt;501st&lt;/ins&gt; Legion &lt;ins&gt;and Rebel Legion&lt;/ins&gt; and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public unless authorized and be approved by Legion Command and &lt;ins&gt;Lucasfilm Ltd.&lt;/ins&gt; All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and its sale shall be forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing or distributing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the office of the Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation or sale of props, costumes, or costume parts or materials by anyone for sale to others. The Legion will not intervene in private sales or transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and misconduct. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating Legion rules or the tenets thereof is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary complainant serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion Captain of the Guard or a designated representative.<br />
# All hearings are conducted on the Legion forum, unless otherwise directed by the LCOG<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute or hearing, members have the right to appeal the decision to the &lt;del&gt;LCOG&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt; Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer&lt;/ins&gt; within &lt;del&gt;a specified timeframe.&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;30 days.&lt;/ins&gt; Any judgment by the &lt;del&gt;LCOG&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;Legion Commanding Officer&lt;/ins&gt; following an appeal is final.<br />
<br />
==Article XI: Bylaws==<br />
<br />
# Bylaws are additional rules, processes, and procedures to manage regular operations, provide guidelines and instruction. The Bylaws set expectations of actions and behaviors in and for the Legion and its members. Bylaws are found in the document titled [[OperationsProtocol|Operations Protocol]].<br />
# Amendments, alterations, or repeal of bylaws may be proposed by active Legion members to the Charter Review Committee directly. <br />
# The CRC will follow the same review, acceptance/rejection, and Council consultation process as described for Charter Amendments in Article VIII. <br />
# Completed proposals will be presented to the Legion members for ratification. <br />
# Amendments to the bylaws require a simple majority of the voting members to pass. <br />
# If passed, the proposal is incorporated into the bylaws and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''<br />
{{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocolOperationsProtocol2011-10-05T11:56:52Z<p>Crimson: /* Detachment */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
[[Category:Legion Charter]]<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
The Operations Protocol is a supplemental set of rules, guidelines, and instructions for day-to-day operations of the 501st Legion. The Operations Protocol acts as the bylaws of the organization, as referenced in the [[LegionCharter|Legion Charter]].<br />
<br />
==Section 1: Code of Conduct==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that its costumes represent characters from the '''''STAR WARS&amp;trade;''''' films and as such, costume-wearers carry the responsibility of portraying these characters professionally and tastefully while in public. For these reasons, all members are prohibited from acting in a manner disrespectful towards the image they are portraying, towards fellow &lt;del&gt;club&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt; organization &lt;/ins&gt; members, or towards the public at large while in costume at any event where the 501st Legion or its sub-units and members are &lt;ins&gt;official&lt;/ins&gt; participants.<br />
<br />
Membership in the 501st Legion is a privilege granted by this private &lt;del&gt;club&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt; organization &lt;/ins&gt;, not a social or legal right. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion maintains that part of the fun of trooping is to be able to do so in reasonable safety. It is the intention of the Legion to provide an outline of behavior wherein it has a Code of conduct for the safety and security of its members. Violations of the code of conduct listed below in items 1 through 5 as determined by a hearing or other incontrovertible evidence will result in immediate termination of membership. <br />
<br />
The policy encompasses those behaviors thought by society to be violent, illegal, or anti-social in nature. It is not the intent of the Legion to abridge the standard rights or practices of the individual member, but rather to protect all members from the defined behavior of any member engaging in such behavior. In any event, common sense must prevail. <br />
<br />
There are, however, other behaviors that do not require such extreme actions. It is the intent of the Legion to reduce the number of cases requiring removal where other less extreme actions can and will suffice. <br />
<br />
===Major Offenses===<br />
# '''Violent or threatening acts against a member of the 501st Legion.''' These acts are defined as:<br />
#* Physically striking another member with the intent to cause bodily harm with or without cause, unless defending one’s self from a violent attack. <br />
#* Threatening harm against the person or property of an individual via phone/ voice mail, forum, electronic social media or in writing. (Threats must be direct and unmistakable to the average person) <br />
#* Cease and Desist orders or other legal action or documents issued by a member’s attorney due to justified and properly documented disciplinary action by the &lt;ins&gt;Garrison Commanding Officer, Legion Captain of the Guard, or Legion Command. &lt;/ins&gt;<br />
# '''Trooping under the influence of an illegal substance.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Arriving to a troop under the influence of an Illegal substance. <br />
#* Use, distribution, or administration of an illegal substance during a 501st event. <br />
# '''Violent or sexual acts against children.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Physically striking a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
#* Sexual advances, or sexual acts engaged with a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
# '''Embezzlement of funds intended for charitable donation.''' While the 501st's official policy is that all funds intended for charity must be submitted by the donor directly to the charity of choice, it has been concluded that in some rare occasions, money will be given directly to a representative of the 501st. Embezzlement is defined as: <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity within &lt;del&gt;three business weeks&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;a reasonable period of time&lt;/ins&gt; following the event. <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity. <br />
#* Spending funds intended for charitable donations on personal or group expenses, including but not limited to patches, coins, cards, and personal expenses including and not limited to any expense which can be viewed as a &quot;living expense.&quot;<br />
# '''Undisclosed criminal history''', which involve the following types of criminal history:<br />
#* Felony drug offenses <br />
#* Sex offender registry entry <br />
#* Felony embezzlement. <br />
#* Felony violent crimes <br />
<br />
<br />
If a member is found guilty of any of the above listed items of the Code of Conduct, he or she has the option to submit an appeal to the Legion Captain of the Guard within one week after notification of the termination of membership. <br />
<br />
''' ''Undisclosed Criminal History'' ''' will result in a default discharge upon presentation of incontrovertible proof of criminal history. Discharging the member for an undisclosed criminal history falls exclusively to the Legion Captain of the Guard with the mutual consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer. An e-mail must be sent to the Garrison Commanding Officer if this clause applies to a member of his or her Garrison. Discharge of said member must occur within a reasonable time frame upon discovery and confirmation.<br />
<br />
====Hearings for Major Offenses ====<br />
If a hearing is required for a major offense, a poll will be set up in the hearing forum by the Legion Captain of the Guard. The poll for this type of hearing will include the following options: <br />
<br />
# Discharge <br />
# Exonerate <br />
<br />
A simple-majority of those voting will be needed to obtain a decision in a Major Offense hearing. If exoneration is chosen by those voting in the hearing poll, the member will automatically be placed on 1 to 2 year probation at the discretion of the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Lesser Offenses===<br />
<br />
====Conduct Unbecoming a Trooper====<br />
<br />
Legion members are expected to treat each other, our event sponsors, the public, and Lucasfilm, Ltd. with common sense and respect. Examples of inappropriate behavior that may result in disciplinary action include, but are not limited to, the following: <br />
<br />
# Harassment of fellow members. <br />
# Merchandise and branding infractions <br />
# Abuse or violation of message board privileges <br />
# Inappropriate behavior during trooping or unit events <br />
# Inappropriate contact with an event host, sponsor, or LFL <br />
# Misrepresentation of a unit or the Legion<br />
<br />
===Dispute Resolution ===<br />
<br />
In an organization as large as ours, disputes and disagreements are bound to occur. With this in mind, the Legion requires that any disputes of a minor or semi-major degree must be resolved. Determination of the mechanism for dispute resolution resides with the Legion Captain of the Guard, the Legion Commanding Officer and the Garrison Commanding Officer. <br />
The policy in reference to Alternative Dispute Resolution is contained below. <br />
<br />
====Alternative Dispute Resolution====<br />
Alternative dispute resolution is used when a disagreement arises between two or more members that could escalate into a Charter violation. The Captain of the Guard, Commanding Officer, or Command Staff may recommend moderated mediation. All parties involved must agree to actively participate in good faith in the process in order for Alternative Dispute Resolution to be effective.<br />
<br />
The procedure for Alternative Dispute Resolution is as follows:<br />
<br />
# The Member(s) or Garrison Commanding Officer must submit a request for a hearing room in writing to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard and/or either or both Legion Commanding Officer or Legion Executive Officer will monitor and moderate all discussions occurring in a private hearing room on the Legion Forum. <br />
# Members are free to discuss their issues without prejudice. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer, or Legion Executive Officer will provide methods to enable resolution.<br />
# Resolution may be:<br />
#* mutual agreement of the parties involved<br />
#* an arbitrated settlement proposed by the COG, LCO, LXO and accepted by the Members involved in the dispute.<br />
# Failing Alternative Dispute Resolution, the command staff or the affected member may request a disciplinary hearing only after all other avenues have been exhausted. <br />
<br />
====Disciplinary Hearing Procedure====<br />
<br />
# A written complaint is filed with the Garrison command, and the Legion Captain of the Guard. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard will investigate and assess the merits of the charges.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, upon satisfactory determination of merit, will open a hearing forum on the Main Legion Forums.<br />
# At a time determined by the Captain of the Guard, the discussion phase of the hearing will be closed.<br />
# The COG will then open the hearing poll.<br />
<br />
During the course of any Legion hearing except under circumstances which have been previously outlined in the Legion Code of Conduct, a poll will be conducted at the conclusion of the proceedings. The poll will be presented to the complainants, and must contain the following options <br />
<br />
For first offenses:<br />
# Exonerate <br />
# Six month probation <br />
# One year probation <br />
# 6 Month suspension <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
<br />
For second offenses <br />
# Exonerate <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
# Discharge <br />
<br />
Requirements:<br />
# All disciplinary actions taken by the Garrison Commanding Officer must have the approval of and notification provided to the Legion Captain of the Guard<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer must be made aware of any appeal in writing.<br />
# All hearings and alternative dispute resolution meetings must take place on the Legion Forums in a private area sectioned off for such purposes.<br />
# Any member may appeal disciplinary actions at the local level to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Administrative Leave===<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete.<br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of &quot;Retired Status&quot; and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status.<br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member's status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
==Section 2: Membership==<br />
<br />
===Active Members===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements:<br />
# Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).<br />
# Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database<br />
# Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML.<br />
# Participates in at least one Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion.<br />
# Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements.<br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible.<br />
<br />
A member may retain active status, even if they do not meet all of the requirements listed above at the discretion of their unit Commanding Officer or Legion Command.<br />
<br />
An Active Member is eligible to:<br />
# Vote in polls of the Active Membership.<br />
# Vote in local and legion elections.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
<br />
===Reserve Members===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets all of the requirements of an Active Member, except for the annual costumed participation in a 501st Legion event, as defined above.<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member must still participate in a supporting role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per census year as defined above. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other non-administrative support functions to be approved by their Garrison Commanding Officer as qualifying activities or contributions.<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums.<br />
# Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas. <br />
# Have access to Detachment forums.<br />
# Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator.<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Retain full access on the Legion Forums.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
===Retired Members===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following):<br />
# Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume.<br />
# Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than one year, and has not actively contributed to the Legion via non-costumed activity during that time.<br />
# Leaves the Legion voluntarily.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is eligible to:<br />
# Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator.<br />
# Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop.<br />
# Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Coordinate official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Access the main Legion forum.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
# Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section.<br />
<br />
===Suspended Members===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
<br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing.<br />
<br />
===Discharged Members===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Purchase or create official 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com.<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events and functions.<br />
# Have access to the 501st Legion or Legion Unit forums. <br />
# Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile.<br />
<br />
===In Memoriam===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing who has passed away.<br />
<br />
An In Memoriam member will have:<br />
# Their identification number preserved and not reissued.<br />
# Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page.<br />
<br />
===Honorary Members===<br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe.<br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment.<br />
An Honorary Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion===<br />
Friends of the Legion are individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom. Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Section 3: Elections==<br />
<br />
The Legion Commanding Officer, Garrison Commanding Officer, Outpost Commanding Officer, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are all elected positions within the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective commander or leader. Only those in good standing are eligible to nominate, run for, and maintain elected or appointed positions. Elections for leadership positions are held once a year.<br />
<br />
# Legion elections will begin at 12:01am GMT on the 1st Saturday of February.<br />
# Nominations will be open for 5 days beginning on Saturday and concluding on the Wednesday immediately following.<br />
# At 12:01am GMT Thursday, the question-and-answer phase begins and runs for 5 days, closing on the Monday immediately following. The next 24 hours are reserved for candidates' closing statements.<br />
# Voting will open from Wednesday following the closing statements and be available for 5 days, ending on the following Sunday.<br />
# The remainder of the month is reserved for transitioning between administrations. Elected candidates will take office at 12:01am GMT on March 1st.<br />
<br />
Every active member in good standing may vote for their respective leaders. Members that are classified as reserve, retired, suspended, or discharged may not vote unless their status has been changed back to active before voting begins. Notice of upcoming elections will be posted on the Legion forum at least one week prior to the beginning of the nomination period. Notification of any elections to individual members is ultimately the job of Garrison and Outpost Commanding Officers for members in their region, and Detachment Leaders for members in their Detachments.<br />
<br />
The Legion Commander is elected by popular vote of the entire Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost Commanding Officers, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are all voted on by members of each respective unit by popular vote. Annual elections are mandatory for every unit.<br />
<br />
If no one challenges the incumbent leader of a unit, an election may be waived. <br />
<br />
If a member of a unit suspects impropriety in a campaign or subsequent election within their unit, a written appeal must be submitted to the Legion Captain of the Guard, who may intervene or audit an election. <br />
<br />
All Legion administrative officers are appointed by the Legion Commanding Officer, each of whom must be confirmed via a poll by the Legion Council prior to taking office. No such confirmations are required at the Garrison, Outpost, Squad, or Detachment level.<br />
<br />
===Qualifications===<br />
<br />
All offices require a member to be in good standing for the contiguous year immediately preceding election commencement.<br />
<br />
====Legion Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 3 years of 501st membership<br />
# Minimum 1 year of service in any of the following offices or functions:<br />
#* Garrison CO<br />
#* Garrison XO<br />
#* Outpost CO<br />
#* Second Council representative (of a Garrison)<br />
#* Legion administrative office (LXO, LCOG, LMO, LMBO, LPRO, LWM, LCR)<br />
<br />
====Garrison Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 1 year of 501st membership -OR- prior experience on the Garrison's command staff<br />
<br />
====Squad Leader====<br />
# Minimum of 6 months of 501st membership<br />
<br />
====Outpost Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 6 months of 501st membership (except for a brand new Outpost's inaugural CO)<br />
# Extenuating circumstances regarding length of membership and standing may be waived at the discretion of the [[LegionCharter#Article_VI:_Legion_Officers | Legion Command]].<br />
<br />
====Detachment Leader====<br />
# Minimum of 1 year of 501st membership<br />
# Ownership of a costume covered by the Detachment<br />
# Trooped in a costume covered by the Detachment within 1 year of the commencement of the election<br />
# Extenuating circumstances regarding length of membership and standing may be waived at the discretion of the [[LegionCharter#Article_VI:_Legion_Officers | Legion Command]].<br />
<br />
===Emergency Elections===<br />
In the event a Commanding Officer or Leader of any unit is unable to continue in office, that unit must notify the Legion Captain of the Guard in writing and conduct an immediate election for a replacement. The election will follow the schedule of 5 days for nominations, 5 days for questions and answers, and 5 days for voting. These time frames may be altered by the Legion Captain of the Guard as necessary. During this time period, the unit's Executive Officer assumes the role of the acting commanding officer or leader until the elections are completed. <br />
<br />
If there is no Executive Officer or both the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer resign or are deemed unable to serve, the Legion Captain of the Guard will assume the nominal role of Commanding Officer or Leader for that unit and will administer the election until it is completed. In the case of Squads, acting leadership will fall to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer. A determination of inability to serve may be deduced from either voluntary self-removal or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness to communications from the Legion or its members.<br />
<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may address problems in leadership by calling for a recall election of their elected leader. A recall election against an Outpost Commanding Officer or Squad Leader requires only one active member of that unit. A recall election against a Garrison Commanding Officer or Detachment Leader requires three active members of that unit. A recall election against the Legion Commanding Officer requires five active Garrison Commanding Officers.<br />
<br />
If a request for a recall election is made, the Captain of the Guard will assess the merit of the request. If the Legion Captain of the Guard determines the complaint has merit, &lt;ins&gt;the unit Executive Officer will temporarily assume leadership of the unit. If the unit Executive Officer is unable to assume the duties of interim unit Commanding Officer then &lt;/ins&gt; the LCOG, or their designated representative, will temporarily assume command of the unit in question (with the exception of Squads, which default to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer). <br />
<br />
The Legion Captain of the Guard will open a forum for 5 days to discuss the charges. After this, a poll will be opened for 5 days and a vote taken of the members of that unit (with the exception of Squads, which includes the entire Garrison's membership), with no minimum number of voters required. A recall vote must pass by at least two-thirds of the vote, in which case the Commander or Leader is removed from office immediately. Otherwise, the Commander or Leader retains the office. If a recall election does result in a removal from office, the Captain of the Guard will administer an emergency election as described above.<br />
<br />
No officer may be subject to a recall election more than twice in a single term.<br />
<br />
===Other===<br />
Appointed officers serve at the discretion of the elected official who appointed them, and are subject to being relieved of duty once the officer who appointed them is no longer in office. The incoming officer will have the option of retaining or replacing them.<br />
<br />
With any election, in the event of a tie, the poll will be reopened for three additional days in hopes that uncast votes will break the tie.<br />
<br />
In the event of no nominees or an unbreakable tie, the Legion Council will deliberate for 5 days and vote for 5 days to appoint a new interim leader for the unit in question until regular elections are held (with the exception of Squads, which default to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer for appointment).<br />
<br />
==Section 4: Merchandise &amp; Branding==<br />
<br />
This set of standards includes any item, print, or paraphernalia that bears the 501st Legion name, logo, or URL.<br />
<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, or the club URLs are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Such proposed items are to be submitted to the Merchandising and Branding Officer, who shall be responsible for the review and approval of any proposed merchandise of the Legion or any subdivision therein. The Merchandising and Branding Officer may impose additional regulations governing the production and/or distribution of such merchandise and make them available to the Legion. In the case of questionable material, the Legion Council has final word on approval.<br />
# 501st items must be free of vulgarity.<br />
# 501st items must be as free of copyrighted material as possible (including use of unmodified LFL photos or artwork).<br />
# 501st items must be sold only to &lt;del&gt;club&lt;/del&gt; members &lt;ins&gt;of the 501st Legion or the Rebel Legion &lt;/ins&gt;and at cost except in sanctioned cases of fundraising approved by the Merchandising and Branding Officer and/or Lucasfilm Ltd.<br />
# 501st items must not be advertised anywhere open to the general public.<br />
# 501st items must not be tied to any outside commercial entity or venture without the express permission of Lucasfilm Ltd.<br />
# 501st items must not misrepresent or misidentify its user/wearer in any role other than as a member or supporter of the 501st Legion fan club. No shirt will bear the label &quot;Security&quot; or &quot;Staff&quot; unless created with the full permission of an event organizer and labeled specifically for that event only.<br />
# 501st items specifying a sub-unit of the club are allowed and encouraged. Such examples would be items promoting 501st Garrisons, Squads, and Detachments. All such items are still subject to the same rules that apply to Legion merchandise.<br />
<br />
==Section 5: Unit Definitions==<br />
&lt;ins&gt; This Section has been added in its entirety &lt;/ins&gt;<br />
===Garrison===<br />
The largest subdivisions of the Legion are the Garrisons, which generally cover large regions distinguished by geography, language, or other characteristics or borders. A Garrison requires at least twenty-five (25) members and is headed by a Garrison Commanding Officer (CO), who is elected by the active members of the Garrison.<br />
<br />
The Garrison may form when an Outpost reaches sufficient membership or when a region within an existing Garrison finds pressing needs to break off and form a new Garrison.<br />
<br />
Member affiliation with a Garrison is normally based upon geographical boundaries and the member's primary residence. A member can request to be placed in another Garrison if they feel closer to that Garrison and it is more feasible to regularly attend events with that Garrison. If approved by the CO of the member's original Garrison as well as the adopting Garrison's CO, the member may switch affiliations.<br />
<br />
Applicants for new Garrison status must complete the Garrison Application Form in which they list their new Garrison name, roster of members from the 501st main membership roster, territorial boundaries, Garrison logo, working Web site and forum, and a brief statement of purpose outlining the reasons for their Garrison to be formed. The form will also list the administrative staff of the Garrison, including a Commanding Officer (CO), Executive Officer (XO), Garrison Public Relations Officer (GPRO), Garrison Web Liaison (GWL), and Garrison Membership Liaison (GML) who will work with the main Legion Membership Officer in helping to make sure their Garrison members are properly listed and updated on the main 501st website.<br />
<br />
The Garrison application form must be submitted to the Legion Command. The Legion Captain of the Guard will verify the membership status of the applicants. The Legion Command will then present the application to the Legion Council for a vote of approval. Approval is granted upon a vote of at least one-third of the Legion Council members in a simple-majority vote. <br />
<br />
If approved by the Legion Council, the new Garrison undergoes a one year probationary period, during which it must demonstrate that it can operate as an independent body. After the one year period, the Council will vote again to approve the Garrison officially. It is required that when a new Garrison forms within an existing Garrison that approval first be sought from the existing Garrison Commander. Garrison COs are free to adopt reasonable local policies and procedures in accordance with the Legion Charter and Operational Protocols as needed, so long as they are supported by the local membership and do not conflict with the Legion's policies and procedures. Garrison COs are also free to appoint additional administrative staff as needed.<br />
<br />
Garrisons that fall under the minimum number of members required to apply for Garrison status will have a grace period of one year to return the membership level to or above the minimum. Garrisons that fail to retain the minimum required membership level may be subject to forfeiting one representative seat on the Legion Council. Garrisons that fall to less than half of the minimum required number of members for a Garrison may be subject to losing Garrison status and designated an Outpost.<br />
<br />
===Squads===<br />
Garrisons can create squads within their units where somewhat isolated clusters of members tend to operate together regularly. These squads may or may not eventually grow into potential new Garrisons, but such an evolution is neither presumed nor required. Squad affiliation is normally based upon geographical boundaries and each member's primary residence. A member of a Garrison residing within a squad's boundaries can petition their CO to be exempt from membership in that squad. A Garrison member not living within a squad's boundaries may request to join a squad, but the permission of both the Garrison CO and the Squad Leader is required. A member of a Garrison with multiple squads may also request switching squad affiliations from the one they reside in to another. In such cases the approval of the CO and both squad leaders (from the squad of residence and the adopting squad) must approve the transfer.<br />
<br />
A Squad requires at least ten (10) members and is headed by a Squad Leader (SL) who is elected every February by the members of the Squad. The creation of a squad requires the completion of a Squad Application Form, which lists the new Squad's name, roster of members from their local Garrison membership roster, territorial boundaries, squad logo, and a brief statement of purpose outlining the reasons for the squad to be formed. This application must first be submitted to the Garrison Commanding Officer, who presents it to the Garrison membership must vote to ratify their leadership's decision and confirm the first Squad Leader.<br />
<br />
The locally approved Squad Application Form is then submitted by the Garrison Commanding Officer to the Legion Commander and Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG) for review, approval, and processing. Once approved by the Legion, the squad must undergo a six-month probationary period during which it should demonstrate that it can operate as a productive and harmonious entity within the Garrison. After this six-month period, the squad's performance is reviewed by the Garrison CO and the LCOG.<br />
<br />
If the squad's performance has been satisfactory, it earns full, ongoing operational status. If, however, their performance has not been satisfactory, the Garrison CO or the LCOG may set additional criteria for the squad to achieve before final approval is given. Approval may also be withdrawn by either their Garrison CO or the LCOG, necessitating a new application at some future time. An application for the same squad can only be submitted once a year.<br />
<br />
Any squad that falls under the minimum number of ten (10) members will have a grace period of 12 months to return their membership level to or above the minimum requirement. A squad that cannot regain the required number of members within this 12 month period will be dissolved. The CO of a dissolved squad must notify Legion Command of the situation.<br />
<br />
If, after a squad is approved, there should arise any grounds to dissolve the squad, the same process that created the squad must be followed to remove it. The Garrison Membership must vote to disband it. A dissolved squad must wait a minimum of one year from the time of dissolution before reapplying for squad status.<br />
<br />
===Outpost===<br />
<br />
For areas that lie outside 501st Legion control and do not have enough members to form a Garrison, an Outpost may be formed. An Outpost requires only one member and is headed by &lt;del&gt;a Commanding Officer (CO)&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt;an Outpost Leader (OL)&lt;/ins&gt;, who is elected by the members of the Outpost.<br />
<br />
Applicants wishing to form a new Outpost must complete the Outpost Application Form in which they list their new Outpost name, roster of members from the main 501st roster, territorial boundaries, and Outpost logo.<br />
<br />
Application for an Outpost must be submitted to the Legion Council and voted on by at least one-third of the Legion Council members in a simple-majority vote. If approved by the Legion Council vote, the Outpost immediately becomes official.<br />
<br />
Once an Outpost contains twenty-five members it may apply to be a recognized Garrison as outlined above and may waive the one-year trial period at the discretion of the Legion Council. Member affiliation with this unit is mandatory based upon geographical boundaries and the member's primary residence.<br />
<br />
Outposts that lose all active members will be considered an inactive Outpost for a period of one year. If an Outpost gains a member or reactivates previously inactive members, the Outpost will be considered active without delay. If an Outpost remains inactive for one year, it will be considered abandoned, and any new Outpost in that region will require a new application.<br />
<br />
===Detachment ===<br />
<br />
Given the diversity of costumes encompassed in the Legion's collective costume repertoire, special themed units called Detachments may be created to improve the quality and awareness of a specific costume category in the Legion's Costume Reference Library (CRL). These units serve as a resource for costumers both in and out of the Legion. Accordingly, their websites and forums may contain both public and 501st-only areas. Access to said areas and the decorum thereon are dictated by the Legion's membership and forum policies.<br />
<br />
A detachment requires five (5) members (detachment membership is defined in the following paragraph), and is headed by a Detachment Leader (DL), who is elected by the active members of the detachment in accordance with the Legion's election procedures and timelines. A member wishing to form a new detachment must submit an application (as contained on 501st.com) first to the Legion Membership Officer (LMO), who will make sure the costume qualifies and does not encroach upon any existing detachment costume coverage.<br />
<br />
The LMO will then submit the approved application to the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Captain of the Guard for review and posting to the Council for a vote. The detachment is bound by the same probationary restrictions as other new units. A review of their probationary period will be held on the Council and a final poll taken to make the unit permanent.<br />
<br />
Formal membership, voting rights, and eligibility for office in a detachment requires that a Legion member be active, own a qualifying costume as represented by the detachment, and have the corresponding costume designation in his/her profile. The approval of said costume is, however, still the purview of the LMO. Ownership of a qualifying costume is verified annually as part of the Legion census. Membership in a detachment is optional, and you can be a member of more than one detachment. Membership is initiated by the Legion member when the above criteria is met and they register on the detachment's forum. Active status is maintained by logging onto said forum once a year. Failing this, the member becomes an inactive member of the detachment. All that is required to be reactivated is to once again log in.<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''<br />
{{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-10-05T11:49:55Z<p>Crimson: /* Article XI: By Laws */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
[[Category:Legion Charter]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
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==Article II: Mission==<br />
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# The 501st Legion is a&lt;ins&gt;n international&lt;/ins&gt; '''''STAR WARS&amp;trade;''''' &lt;del&gt;fan club&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt;costuming organization &lt;/ins&gt; dedicated to celebrating the '''''STAR WARS''''' universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in '''''STAR WARS''''' through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
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==Article III: Representation==<br />
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The 501st Legion recognizes that &lt;del&gt;it's&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;the members of the Legion&lt;/ins&gt; &lt;del&gt;members&lt;/del&gt; have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of ''Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)'' except by the privileges authorized to the organization by ''Lucasfilm Ltd.'' Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization &lt;del&gt;represent the brand that is&lt;/DEL&gt; &lt;ins&gt; portray the characters of &lt;/ins&gt; ''Star Wars'', when in costume &lt;del&gt;or otherwise &lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;and&lt;/ins&gt; acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing &lt;del&gt; the ''Star Wars'' brand, &lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;The Legion &lt;/ins&gt;members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
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==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member &lt;ins&gt;may choose or will&lt;/ins&gt; be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision &lt;ins&gt;or unit&lt;/ins&gt;.<br />
#&lt;ins&gt;The 501st Legion reserves the right to deny or revoke membership at any time, based on any past criminal history as outlined in the [[OperationsProtocol|Operations Protocol]] and in accordance with the laws of the applicable country or region within.Notice of such denial or revocation will be filed with the 501st Legion Council.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
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==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the &lt;del&gt;club.&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt; organization.&lt;/ins&gt; The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
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==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
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# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and &lt;del&gt;reserves the authority to&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt; will&lt;/ins&gt; act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The office of the LCOG interprets and enforces club rules. The office of the LCOG serves as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, oversees disciplinary hearings, moderates Legion elections, and maintains the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The office of the LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The office of the LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The office of the LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The office of the LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The office of the LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
===Unit Officers===<br />
====Garrison Officers====<br />
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#&lt;ins&gt;Garrison Commanding Officer: (GCO or CO) The Garrison Commanding Officer is elected by the Garrison membership. The GCO is the chief administrator of the Garrison and is responsible for the smooth operations of the Garrison and the coordination of events. The Garrison Commanding Officer is responsible for maintaining communications with the Legion Council and Legion Command.The GCO also appoints the Garrison Officers and Staff, and administers local forum rules.The Garrison Commanding Officer is the principal representative of the Garrison Membership on the Legion Council.&lt;/ins&gt; <br />
#&lt;ins&gt;Garrison Executive Officer: (GXO or XO) The GXO is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The GXO may perform duties as assigned by the GCO, and will act as Commanding Officer in the absence of the Garrison Commanding Officer.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
#Second Council Seat Typically the Garrison Executive Officer is &lt;del&gt;typically &lt;/del&gt;the Second representative of the Garrison Membership on the Legion Council. However, the Garrison Commanding Officer may appoint a different officer or Garrison member to the position of &lt;ins&gt;council &lt;/ins&gt;Second Seat.<br />
#Garrison Membership Liaison: (GML) The GML is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The Garrison membership Liaison is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining Garrison member information in the Legion database. The GML reports to the Garrison Commanding Officer and the Legion Membership &lt;del&gt;Liaison&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt; Officer&lt;/ins&gt;. For more information on the duties and responsibilities of the Garrison Membership Liaison see the GML Survival Guide.<br />
#&lt;ins&gt;Garrison Public Relations Officer: (GPRO) The GPRO is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The GPRO assists the GCO in promoting the Unit to the public and also may be called upon by the Legion PRO to assist in the public promotion of the Legion.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
#&lt;ins&gt;Garrison Web Liaison: (GWL) The GWL is appointed by the Garrison Commanding Officer. The GWL assists the GML in the preparation and management of the Garrison Membership Profiles and is directly responsible for the processing and management of the Garrison Member Profile Images. &lt;/ins&gt;<br />
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====Outpost Officers====<br />
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#Outpost Leader (OL) The Outpost Leader is elected by the Outpost membership. The OL is the chief administrator of the Outpost and is responsible for the smooth operations of the Outpost and the coordination of events. The Outpost Leader is responsible for maintaining communications with the Legion Council and Legion Command.The &lt;del&gt;LO&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;OL&lt;/ins&gt; also appoints the Outpost Officers and Staff, administers local forum rules. The Outpost Leader is the principal representative of the Outpost Membership on the Legion Council.<br />
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==== Detachment Officers====<br />
#&lt;ins&gt; Detachment Leader (DL) Detachment leaders are supervised and represented on the Council by the LMO. A Detachment Leader has the following responsibilities:&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
##&lt;ins&gt;Verify membership status in the Legion with the approved costume, and grant the appropriate access for active Legion members in good standing to detachments areas.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
##&lt;ins&gt;Monitor the detachment forums and moderate them, appointing additional moderators as needed.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
##Ensure that the detachments website is properly maintained and the content &lt;del&gt;thereon&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt;therein&lt;/ins&gt; is accurate and up to date.<br />
##&lt;ins&gt;Participate on the DL forum as needed and when requested.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
##&lt;ins&gt;Maintain contact with the LMO and report any issue or controversy related to costuming.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
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==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their &lt;del&gt;respective jurisdictions.&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;currently assigned units.&lt;/ins&gt;<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the active members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the active members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may address egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals &lt;ins&gt;then&lt;/ins&gt; require a two-thirds majority of &lt;ins&gt;the&lt;/ins&gt; voting &lt;del&gt;members&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;membership&lt;/ins&gt; to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
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==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
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# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the ''Star Wars'' property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the &lt;ins&gt;501st&lt;/ins&gt; Legion &lt;ins&gt;and Rebel Legion&lt;/ins&gt; and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public unless authorized and be approved by Legion Command and &lt;ins&gt;Lucasfilm Ltd.&lt;/ins&gt; All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and its sale shall be forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing or distributing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the office of the Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation or sale of props, costumes, or costume parts or materials by anyone for sale to others. The Legion will not intervene in private sales or transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
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==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
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When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and misconduct. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
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# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating Legion rules or the tenets thereof is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary complainant serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion Captain of the Guard or a designated representative.<br />
# All hearings are conducted on the Legion forum, unless otherwise directed by the LCOG<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute or hearing, members have the right to appeal the decision to the &lt;del&gt;LCOG&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt; Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer&lt;/ins&gt; within &lt;del&gt;a specified timeframe.&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;30 days.&lt;/ins&gt; Any judgment by the &lt;del&gt;LCOG&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;Legion Commanding Officer&lt;/ins&gt; following an appeal is final.<br />
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==Article XI: Bylaws==<br />
<br />
# Bylaws are additional rules, processes, and procedures to manage regular operations, provide guidelines and instruction. The Bylaws set expectations of actions and behaviors in and for the Legion and its members. Bylaws are found in the document titled [[OperationsProtocol|Operations Protocol]].<br />
# Amendments, alterations, or repeal of bylaws may be proposed by active Legion members to the Charter Review Committee directly. <br />
# The CRC will follow the same review, acceptance/rejection, and Council consultation process as described for Charter Amendments in Article VIII. <br />
# Completed proposals will be presented to the Legion members for ratification. <br />
# Amendments to the bylaws require a simple majority of the voting members to pass. <br />
# If passed, the proposal is incorporated into the bylaws and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
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<br />
''' ''Revised by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''<br />
15:36, 3 October 2011 (CDT)</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocolOperationsProtocol2011-09-29T12:07:05Z<p>Crimson: /* Section 5: Unit Definitions */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
[[Category:Legion Charter]]<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
The Operations Protocol is a supplemental set of rules, guidelines, and instructions for day-to-day operations of the 501st Legion. The Operations Protocol acts as the bylaws of the organization, as referenced in the [[LegionCharter|Legion Charter]].<br />
<br />
==Section 1: Code of Conduct==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that its costumes represent characters from the '''''STAR WARS&amp;trade;''''' films and as such, costume-wearers carry the responsibility of portraying these characters professionally and tastefully while in public. For these reasons, all members are prohibited from acting in a manner disrespectful towards the image they are portraying, towards fellow &lt;del&gt;club&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt; organization &lt;/ins&gt; members, or towards the public at large while in costume at any event where the 501st Legion or its sub-units and members are &lt;ins&gt;official&lt;/ins&gt; participants.<br />
<br />
Membership in the 501st Legion is a privilege granted by this private &lt;del&gt;club&lt;/del&gt;&lt;ins&gt; organization &lt;/ins&gt;, not a social or legal right. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion maintains that part of the fun of trooping is to be able to do so in reasonable safety. It is the intention of the Legion to provide an outline of behavior wherein it has a Code of conduct for the safety and security of its members. Violations of the code of conduct listed below in items 1 through 5 as determined by a hearing or other incontrovertible evidence will result in immediate termination of membership. <br />
<br />
The policy encompasses those behaviors thought by society to be violent, illegal, or anti-social in nature. It is not the intent of the Legion to abridge the standard rights or practices of the individual member, but rather to protect all members from the defined behavior of any member engaging in such behavior. In any event, common sense must prevail. <br />
<br />
There are, however, other behaviors that do not require such extreme actions. It is the intent of the Legion to reduce the number of cases requiring removal where other less extreme actions can and will suffice. <br />
<br />
===Major Offenses===<br />
# '''Violent or threatening acts against a member of the 501st Legion.''' These acts are defined as:<br />
#* Physically striking another member with the intent to cause bodily harm with or without cause, unless defending one’s self from a violent attack. <br />
#* Threatening harm against the person or property of an individual via phone/ voice mail, forum, electronic social media or in writing. (Threats must be direct and unmistakable to the average person) <br />
#* Cease and Desist orders or other legal action or documents issued by a member’s attorney due to justified and properly documented disciplinary action by the &lt;ins&gt;Garrison Commanding Officer, Legion Captain of the Guard, or Legion Command. &lt;/ins&gt;<br />
# '''Trooping under the influence of an illegal substance.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Arriving to a troop under the influence of an Illegal substance. <br />
#* Use, distribution, or administration of an illegal substance during a 501st event. <br />
# '''Violent or sexual acts against children.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Physically striking a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
#* Sexual advances, or sexual acts engaged with a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
# '''Embezzlement of funds intended for charitable donation.''' While the 501st's official policy is that all funds intended for charity must be submitted by the donor directly to the charity of choice, it has been concluded that in some rare occasions, money will be given directly to a representative of the 501st. Embezzlement is defined as: <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity within &lt;del&gt;three business weeks&lt;/del&gt; &lt;ins&gt;a reasonable period of time&lt;/ins&gt; following the event. <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity. <br />
#* Spending funds intended for charitable donations on personal or group expenses, including but not limited to patches, coins, cards, and personal expenses including and not limited to any expense which can be viewed as a &quot;living expense.&quot;<br />
# '''Undisclosed criminal history''', which involve the following types of criminal history:<br />
#* Felony drug offenses <br />
#* Sex offender registry entry <br />
#* Felony embezzlement. <br />
#* Felony violent crimes <br />
<br />
<br />
If a member is found guilty of any of the above listed items of the Code of Conduct, he or she has the option to submit an appeal to the Legion Captain of the Guard within one week after notification of the termination of membership. <br />
<br />
''' ''Undisclosed Criminal History'' ''' will result in a default discharge upon presentation of incontrovertible proof of criminal history. Discharging the member for an undisclosed criminal history falls exclusively to the Legion Captain of the Guard with the mutual consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer. An e-mail must be sent to the Garrison Commanding Officer if this clause applies to a member of his or her Garrison. Discharge of said member must occur within a reasonable time frame upon discovery and confirmation.<br />
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====Hearings for Major Offenses ====<br />
If a hearing is required for a major offense, a poll will be set up in the hearing forum by the Legion Captain of the Guard. The poll for this type of hearing will include the following options: <br />
<br />
# Discharge <br />
# Exonerate <br />
<br />
A simple-majority of those voting will be needed to obtain a decision in a Major Offense hearing. If exoneration is chosen by those voting in the hearing poll, the member will automatically be placed on 1 to 2 year probation at the discretion of the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
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===Lesser Offenses===<br />
<br />
====Conduct Unbecoming a Trooper====<br />
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Legion members are expected to treat each other, our event sponsors, the public, and LucasFilm, Ltd. with common sense and respect. Examples of inappropriate behavior that may result in disciplinary action include, but are not limited to, the following: <br />
<br />
# Harassment of fellow members. <br />
# Merchandise and branding infractions <br />
# Abuse or violation of message board privileges <br />
# Inappropriate behavior during trooping or unit events <br />
# Inappropriate contact with an event host, sponsor, or LFL <br />
# Misrepresentation of a unit or the Legion<br />
<br />
<br />
===Dispute Resolution ===<br />
<br />
In an organization as large as ours, disputes and disagreements are bound to occur. With this in mind, the Legion requires that any disputes of a minor or semi-major degree must be resolved. Determination of the mechanism for dispute resolution resides with the Legion Captain of the Guard, the Legion Commanding Officer and the Garrison Commanding Officer. <br />
The policy in reference to Alternative Dispute Resolution is contained below. <br />
<br />
====Alternative Dispute Resolution====<br />
Alternative dispute resolution is used when a disagreement arises between two or more members that could escalate into a Charter violation. The Captain of the Guard, Commanding Officer, or Command Staff may recommend moderated mediation. All parties involved must agree to actively participate in good faith in the process in order for Alternative Dispute Resolution to be effective.<br />
<br />
The procedure for Alternative Dispute Resolution is as follows:<br />
<br />
# The Member(s) or Garrison Commanding Officer must submit a request for a hearing room in writing to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard and/or either or both Legion Commanding Officer or Legion Executive Officer will monitor and moderate all discussions occurring in a private hearing room on the Legion Forum. <br />
# Members are free to discuss their issues without prejudice. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer, or Legion Executive Officer will provide methods to enable resolution.<br />
# Resolution may be:<br />
#* mutual agreement of the parties involved<br />
#* an arbitrated settlement proposed by the COG, LCO, LXO and accepted by the Members involved in the dispute.<br />
# Failing Alternative Dispute Resolution, the command staff or the affected member may request a disciplinary hearing only after all other avenues have been exhausted. <br />
<br />
====Disciplinary Hearing Procedure====<br />
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# A written complaint is filed with the Garrison command, and the Legion Captain of the Guard. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard will investigate and assess the merits of the charges.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, upon satisfactory determination of merit, will open a hearing forum on the Main Legion Forums.<br />
# At a time determined by the Captain of the Guard, the discussion phase of the hearing will be closed.<br />
# The COG will then open the hearing poll.<br />
<br />
During the course of any Legion hearing except under circumstances which have been previously outlined in the Legion Code of Conduct, a poll will be conducted at the conclusion of the proceedings. The poll will be presented to the complainants, and must contain the following options <br />
<br />
For first offenses:<br />
# Exonerate <br />
# Six month probation <br />
# One year probation <br />
# 6 Month suspension <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
<br />
For second offenses <br />
# Exonerate <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
# Discharge <br />
<br />
Requirements:<br />
# All disciplinary actions taken by the Garrison Commanding Officer must have the approval of and notification provided to the Legion Captain of the Guard<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer must be made aware of any appeal in writing.<br />
# All hearings and alternative dispute resolution meetings must take place on the Legion Forums in a private area sectioned off for such purposes.<br />
# Any member may appeal disciplinary actions at the local level to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Administrative Leave===<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete.<br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of &quot;Retired Status&quot; and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status.<br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member's status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
==Section 2: Membership==<br />
<br />
===Active Members===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements:<br />
# Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).<br />
# Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database<br />
# Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML.<br />
# Participates in at least one Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion.<br />
# Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements.<br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible.<br />
<br />
A member may retain active status, even if they do not meet all of the requirements listed above at the discretion of their unit Commanding Officer or Legion Command.<br />
<br />
An Active Member is eligible to:<br />
# Vote in polls of the Active Membership.<br />
# Vote in local and legion elections.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
<br />
===Reserve Members===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets all of the requirements of an Active Member, except for the annual costumed participation in a 501st Legion event, as defined above.<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member must still participate in a supporting role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per census year as defined above. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other non-administrative support functions to be approved by their Garrison Commanding Officer as qualifying activities or contributions.<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums.<br />
# Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas. <br />
# Have access to Detachment forums.<br />
# Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator.<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Retain full access on the Legion Forums.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
===Retired Members===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following):<br />
# Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume.<br />
# Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than one year, and has not actively contributed to the Legion via non-costumed activity during that time.<br />
# Leaves the Legion voluntarily.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is eligible to:<br />
# Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator.<br />
# Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop.<br />
# Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Coordinate official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Access the main Legion forum.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
# Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section.<br />
<br />
===Suspended Members===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
<br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing.<br />
<br />
===Discharged Members===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Purchase or create official 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com.<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events and functions.<br />
# Have access to the 501st Legion or Legion Unit forums. <br />
# Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile.<br />
<br />
===In Memoriam===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing who has passed away.<br />
<br />
An In Memoriam member will have:<br />
# Their identification number preserved and not reissued.<br />
# Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page.<br />
<br />
===Honorary Members===<br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe.<br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment.<br />
An Honorary Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion===<br />
Friends of the Legion are individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for LucasFilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom. Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Section 3: Elections==<br />
<br />
The Legion Commanding Officer, Garrison Commanding Officer, Outpost Commanding Officer, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are all elected positions within the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective commander or leader. Only those in good standing are eligible to nominate, run for, and maintain elected or appointed positions. Elections for leadership positions are held once a year.<br />
<br />
# Legion elections will begin at 12:01am GMT on the 1st Saturday of February.<br />
# Nominations will be open for 5 days beginning on Saturday and concluding on the Wednesday immediately following.<br />
# At 12:01am GMT Thursday, the question-and-answer phase begins and runs for 5 days, closing on the Monday immediately following. The next 24 hours are reserved for candidates' closing statements.<br />
# Voting will open from Wednesday following the closing statements and be available for 5 days, ending on the following Sunday.<br />
# The remainder of the month is reserved for transitioning between administrations. Elected candidates will take office at 12:01am GMT on March 1st.<br />
<br />
Every active member in good standing may vote for their respective leaders. Members that are classified as reserve, retired, suspended, or discharged may not vote unless their status has been changed back to active before voting begins. Notice of upcoming elections will be posted on the Legion forum at least one week prior to the beginning of the nomination period. Notification of any elections to individual members is ultimately the job of Garrison and Outpost Commanding Officers for members in their region, and Detachment Leaders for members in their Detachments.<br />
<br />
The Legion Commander is elected by popular vote of the entire Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost Commanding Officers, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are all voted on by members of each respective unit by popular vote. Annual elections are mandatory for every unit.<br />
<br />
If no one challenges the incumbent leader of a unit, an election may be waived. <br />
<br />
If a member of a unit suspects impropriety in a campaign or subsequent election within their unit, a written appeal must be submitted to the Legion Captain of the Guard, who may intervene or audit an election. <br />
<br />
All Legion administrative officers are appointed by the Legion Commanding Officer, each of whom must be confirmed via a poll by the Legion Council prior to taking office. No such confirmations are required at the Garrison, Outpost, Squad, or Detachment level.<br />
<br />
===Qualifications===<br />
<br />
All offices require a member to be in good standing for the contiguous year immediately preceding election commencement.<br />
<br />
====Legion Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 3 years of 501st membership<br />
# Minimum 1 year of service in any of the following offices or functions:<br />
#* Garrison CO<br />
#* Garrison XO<br />
#* Outpost CO<br />
#* Second Council representative (of a Garrison)<br />
#* Legion administrative office (LXO, LCOG, LMO, LMBO, LPRO, LWM, LCR)<br />
<br />
====Garrison Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 1 year of 501st membership -OR- prior experience on the Garrison's command staff<br />
<br />
====Squad Leader====<br />
# Minimum of 6 months of 501st membership<br />
<br />
====Outpost Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 6 months of 501st membership (except for a brand new Outpost's inaugural CO)<br />
# Extenuating circumstances regarding length of membership and standing may be waived at the discretion of the [[LegionCharter#Article_VI:_Legion_Officers | Legion Command]].<br />
<br />
====Detachment Leader====<br />
# Minimum of 1 year of 501st membership<br />
# Ownership of a costume covered by the Detachment<br />
# Trooped in a costume covered by the Detachment within 1 year of the commencement of the election<br />
# Extenuating circumstances regarding length of membership and standing may be waived at the discretion of the [[LegionCharter#Article_VI:_Legion_Officers | Legion Command]].<br />
<br />
===Emergency Elections===<br />
In the event a Commanding Officer or Leader of any unit is unable to continue in office, that unit must notify the Legion Captain of the Guard in writing and conduct an immediate election for a replacement. The election will follow the schedule of 5 days for nominations, 5 days for questions and answers, and 5 days for voting. These time frames may be altered by the Legion Captain of the Guard as necessary. During this time period, the unit's Executive Officer assumes the role of the acting commanding officer or leader until the elections are completed. <br />
<br />
If there is no Executive Officer or both the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer resign or are deemed unable to serve, the Legion Captain of the Guard will assume the nominal role of Commanding Officer or Leader for that unit and will administer the election until it is completed. In the case of Squads, acting leadership will fall to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer. A determination of inability to serve may be deduced from either voluntary self-removal or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness to communications from the Legion or its members.<br />
<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may address problems in leadership by calling for a recall election of their elected leader. A recall election against an Outpost Commanding Officer or Squad Leader requires only one active member of that unit. A recall election against a Garrison Commanding Officer or Detachment Leader requires three active members of that unit. A recall election against the Legion Commanding Officer requires five active Garrison Commanding Officers.<br />
<br />
If a request for a recall election is made, the Captain of the Guard will assess the merit of the request. If the Legion Captain of the Guard determines the complaint has merit, the LCOG, or their designated representative, will temporarily assume command of the unit in question (with the exception of Squads, which default to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer). <br />
<br />
The Legion Captain of the Guard will open a forum for 5 days to discuss the charges. After this, a poll will be opened for 5 days and a vote taken of the members of that unit (with the exception of Squads, which includes the entire Garrison's membership), with no minimum number of voters required. A recall vote must pass by at least two-thirds of the vote, in which case the Commander or Leader is removed from office immediately. Otherwise, the Commander or Leader retains the office. If a recall election does result in a removal from office, the Captain of the Guard will administer an emergency election as described above.<br />
<br />
No officer may be subject to a recall election more than twice in a single term.<br />
<br />
===Other===<br />
Appointed officers serve at the discretion of the elected official who appointed them, and are subject to being relieved of duty once the officer who appointed them is no longer in office. The incoming officer will have the option of retaining or replacing them.<br />
<br />
With any election, in the event of a tie, the poll will be reopened for three additional days in hopes that uncast votes will break the tie.<br />
<br />
In the event of no nominees or an unbreakable tie, the Legion Council will deliberate for 5 days and vote for 5 days to appoint a new interim leader for the unit in question until regular elections are held (with the exception of Squads, which default to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer for appointment).<br />
<br />
==Section 4: Merchandise &amp; Branding==<br />
<br />
This set of standards includes any item, print, or paraphernalia that bears the 501st Legion name, logo, or URL.<br />
<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, or the club URLs are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Such proposed items are to be submitted to the Merchandising and Branding Officer, who shall be responsible for the review and approval of any proposed merchandise of the Legion or any subdivision therein. The Merchandising and Branding Officer may impose additional regulations governing the production and/or distribution of such merchandise and make them available to the Legion. In the case of questionable material, the Legion Council has final word on approval.<br />
# 501st items must be free of vulgarity.<br />
# 501st items must be as free of copyrighted material as possible (including use of unmodified LFL photos or artwork).<br />
# 501st items must be sold only to club members and at cost except in sanctioned cases of fundraising approved by the Merchandising and Branding Officer and/or LFL.<br />
# 501st items must not be advertised anywhere open to the general public.<br />
# 501st items must not be tied to any outside commercial entity or venture without the express permission of LFL.<br />
# 501st items must not misrepresent or misidentify its user/wearer in any role other than as a member or supporter of the 501st Legion fan club. No shirt will bear the label &quot;Security&quot; or &quot;Staff&quot; unless created with the full permission of an event organizer and labeled specifically for that event only.<br />
# 501st items specifying a sub-unit of the club are allowed and encouraged. Such examples would be items promoting 501st Garrisons, Squads, and Detachments. All such items are still subject to the same rules that apply to Legion merchandise.<br />
<br />
==Section 5: Unit Definitions==<br />
&lt;ins&gt; This Section has been added in its entirety &lt;/ins&gt;<br />
===Garrison===<br />
The largest subdivisions of the Legion are the Garrisons, which generally cover large regions distinguished by geography, language, or other characteristics or borders. A Garrison requires at least twenty-five (25) members and is headed by a Garrison Commanding Officer (CO), who is elected by the active members of the Garrison.<br />
<br />
The Garrison may form when an Outpost reaches sufficient membership or when a region within an existing Garrison finds pressing needs to break off and form a new Garrison.<br />
<br />
Member affiliation with a Garrison is normally based upon geographical boundaries and the member's primary residence. A member can request to be placed in another Garrison if they feel closer to that Garrison and it is more feasible to regularly attend events with that Garrison. If approved by the CO of the member's original Garrison as well as the adopting Garrison's CO, the member may switch affiliations.<br />
<br />
Applicants for new Garrison status must complete the Garrison Application Form in which they list their new Garrison name, roster of members from the 501st main membership roster, territorial boundaries, Garrison logo, working Web site and forum, and a brief statement of purpose outlining the reasons for their Garrison to be formed. The form will also list the administrative staff of the Garrison, including a Commanding Officer (CO), Executive Officer (XO), Garrison Public Relations Officer (GPRO), Garrison Web Liaison (GWL), and Garrison Membership Liaison (GML) who will work with the main Legion Membership Officer in helping to make sure their Garrison members are properly listed and updated on the main 501st website.<br />
<br />
The Garrison application form must be submitted to the Legion Command. The Legion Captain of the Guard will verify the membership status of the applicants. The Legion Command will then present the application to the Legion Council for a vote of approval. Approval is granted upon a vote of at least one-third of the Legion Council members in a simple-majority vote. <br />
<br />
If approved by the Legion Council, the new Garrison undergoes a one year probationary period, during which it must demonstrate that it can operate as an independent body. After the one year period, the Council will vote again to approve the Garrison officially. It is required that when a new Garrison forms within an existing Garrison that approval first be sought from the existing Garrison Commander. Garrison COs are free to adopt reasonable local policies and procedures in accordance with the Legion Charter and Operational Protocols as needed, so long as they are supported by the local membership and do not conflict with the Legion's policies and procedures. Garrison COs are also free to appoint additional administrative staff as needed.<br />
<br />
Garrisons that fall under the minimum number of members required to apply for Garrison status will have a grace period of one year to return the membership level to or above the minimum. Garrisons that fail to retain the minimum required membership level may be subject to forfeiting one representative seat on the Legion Council. Garrisons that fall to less than half of the minimum required number of members for a Garrison may be subject to losing Garrison status and designated an Outpost.<br />
<br />
===Squads===<br />
Garrisons can create squads within their units where somewhat isolated clusters of members tend to operate together regularly. These squads may or may not eventually grow into potential new Garrisons, but such an evolution is neither presumed nor required. Squad affiliation is normally based upon geographical boundaries and each member's primary residence. A member of a Garrison residing within a squad's boundaries can petition their CO to be exempt from membership in that squad. A Garrison member not living within a squad's boundaries may request to join a squad, but the permission of both the Garrison CO and the Squad Leader is required. A member of a Garrison with multiple squads may also request switching squad affiliations from the one they reside in to another. In such cases the approval of the CO and both squad leaders (from the squad of residence and the adopting squad) must approve the transfer.<br />
<br />
A Squad requires at least ten (10) members and is headed by a Squad Leader (SL) who is elected every February by the members of the Squad. The creation of a squad requires the completion of a Squad Application Form, which lists the new Squad's name, roster of members from their local Garrison membership roster, territorial boundaries, squad logo, and a brief statement of purpose outlining the reasons for the squad to be formed. This application must first be submitted to the Garrison Commanding Officer, who presents it to the Garrison membership must vote to ratify their leadership's decision and confirm the first Squad Leader.<br />
<br />
The locally approved Squad Application Form is then submitted by the Garrison Commanding Officer to the Legion Commander and Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG) for review, approval, and processing. Once approved by the Legion, the squad must undergo a six-month probationary period during which it should demonstrate that it can operate as a productive and harmonious entity within the Garrison. After this six-month period, the squad's performance is reviewed by the Garrison CO and the LCOG.<br />
<br />
If the squad's performance has been satisfactory, it earns full, ongoing operational status. If, however, their performance has not been satisfactory, the Garrison CO or the LCOG may set additional criteria for the squad to achieve before final approval is given. Approval may also be withdrawn by either their Garrison CO or the LCOG, necessitating a new application at some future time. An application for the same squad can only be submitted once a year.<br />
<br />
Any squad that falls under the minimum number of ten (10) members will have a grace period of 12 months to return their membership level to or above the minimum requirement. A squad that cannot regain the required number of members within this 12 month period will be dissolved. The CO of a dissolved squad must notify Legion Command of the situation.<br />
<br />
If, after a squad is approved, there should arise any grounds to dissolve the squad, the same process that created the squad must be followed to remove it. The Garrison Membership must vote to disband it. A dissolved squad must wait a minimum of one year from the time of dissolution before reapplying for squad status.<br />
<br />
===Outpost===<br />
<br />
For areas that lie outside 501st Legion control and do not have enough members to form a Garrison, an Outpost may be formed. An Outpost requires only one member and is headed by a Commanding Officer (CO), who is elected by the members of the Outpost.<br />
<br />
Applicants wishing to form a new Outpost must complete the Outpost Application Form in which they list their new Outpost name, roster of members from the main 501st roster, territorial boundaries, and Outpost logo.<br />
<br />
Application for an Outpost must be submitted to the Legion Council and voted on by at least one-third of the Legion Council members in a simple-majority vote. If approved by the Legion Council vote, the Outpost immediately becomes official.<br />
<br />
Once an Outpost contains twenty-five members it may apply to be a recognized Garrison as outlined above and may waive the one-year trial period at the discretion of the Legion Council. Member affiliation with this unit is mandatory based upon geographical boundaries and the member's primary residence.<br />
<br />
Outposts that lose all active members will be considered an inactive Outpost for a period of one year. If an Outpost gains a member or reactivates previously inactive members, the Outpost will be considered active without delay. If an Outpost remains inactive for one year, it will be considered abandoned, and any new Outpost in that region will require a new application.<br />
<br />
===Detachment ===<br />
<br />
Given the diversity of costumes encompassed in the Legion's collective costume repertoire, special themed units called Detachments may be created to improve the quality and awareness of a specific costume category in the Legion's Costume Reference Library (CRL). These units serve as a resource for costumers both in and out of the Legion. Accordingly, their websites and forums may contain both public and 501st-only areas. Access to said areas and the decorum thereon are dictated by the Legion's membership and forum policies.<br />
<br />
A detachment requires five (5) members (detachment membership is defined in the following paragraph), and is headed by a Detachment Leader (DL), who is elected by the active members of the detachment in accordance with the Legion's election procedures and timelines. A member wishing to form a new detachment must submit an application (as contained on 501st.com) first to the Legion Membership Officer (LMO), who will make sure the costume qualifies and does not encroach upon any existing detachment costume coverage.<br />
<br />
The LMO will then submit the approved application to the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Captain of the Guard for review and posting to the Council for a vote. The detachment is bound by the same probationary restrictions as other new units. A review of their probationary period will be held on the Council and a final poll taken to make the unit permanent.<br />
<br />
Formal membership, voting rights, and eligibility for office in a detachment requires that a Legion member be active, own a qualifying costume as represented by the detachment, and have the corresponding costume designation in his/her profile. The approval of said costume is, however, still the purview of the LMO. Ownership of a qualifying costume is verified annually as part of the Legion census. Membership in a detachment is optional, and you can be a member of more than one detachment. Membership is initiated by the Legion member when the above criteria is met and they register on the detachment's forum. Active status is maintained by logging onto said forum once a year. Failing this, the member becomes an inactive member of the detachment. All that is required to be reactivated is to once again log in.<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocolOperationsProtocol2011-09-23T21:01:08Z<p>Crimson: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
The Operations Protocol is a supplemental set of rules, guidelines, and instructions for day-to-day operations of the 501st Legion. The Operations Protocol acts as the bylaws of the organization, as referenced in the [[LegionCharter|Legion Charter]].<br />
<br />
==Section 1: Code of Conduct==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that its costumes represent characters from the Star Wars films and as such, costume-wearers carry the responsibility of portraying these characters professionally and tastefully while in public. For these reasons, all members are prohibited from acting in a manner disrespectful towards the image they are portraying, towards fellow club members, or towards the public at large while in costume at any event where the 501st Legion or its sub-units and members are participants.<br />
<br />
Membership in the 501st Legion is a privilege granted by this private club, not a social or legal right. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion maintains that part of the fun of trooping is to be able to do so in reasonable safety. It is the intention of the Legion to provide an outline of behavior wherein it has a Code of conduct for the safety and security of its members. Violations of the code of conduct listed below as items 1 through 5 as determined by a hearing or other incontrovertible evidence will result in immediate termination of membership. <br />
<br />
The policy encompasses those behaviors thought by society to be violent, illegal, or anti-social in nature. It is not the intent of the Legion to abridge the standard rights or practices of the individual member, but rather to protect all members from the defined behavior of any member engaging in such behavior. In any event, common sense must prevail. <br />
<br />
There are, however, other behaviors that do not require such extreme actions. It is the intent of the Legion to reduce the number of cases requiring removal where other less extreme actions can and will suffice. <br />
<br />
===Major Offenses===<br />
# '''Violent or threatening acts against a member of the 501st Legion.''' These acts are defined as:<br />
#* Physically striking another member with the intent to cause bodily harm with or without cause, unless defending one’s self from a violent attack. <br />
#* Threatening harm against the person or property of an individual via phone/ voice mail, forum, electronic social media or in writing. (Threats must be direct and unmistakable to the average person) <br />
#* Cease and Desist orders or other legal action or documents issued by a member’s attorney due to justified and properly documented disciplinary action by the GCO or LCOG. <br />
# '''Trooping under the influence of an illegal substance.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Arriving to a troop under the influence of a Illegal substance. <br />
#* Use, distribution, or administration of an illegal substance during a 501st event. <br />
# '''Violent or sexual acts against children.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Physically striking a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
#* Sexual advances, or sexual acts engaged with a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
# '''Embezzlement of funds intended for charitable donation.''' While the 501st's official policy is that all funds intended for charity must be submitted by the donor directly to the charity of choice, it has been concluded that in some rare occasions, money will be given directly to a representative of the 501st. Embezzlement is defined as: <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity within three business weeks following the event. <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity. <br />
#* Spending funds intended for charitable donations on personal or group expenses, including but not limited to patches, coins, cards, and personal expenses including and not limited to any expense which can be viewed as a &quot;living expense.&quot;<br />
# '''Undisclosed criminal history''', which involve the following types of criminal history:<br />
#* Felony drug offenses <br />
#* Sex offender registry entry <br />
#* Felony embezzlement. <br />
#* Felony violent crimes <br />
<br />
<br />
If a member is found guilty of any of the above listed items of the Code of Conduct, he or she has the option to submit an appeal to the Legion Captain of the Guard within one week after notification of the termination of membership. <br />
<br />
''' ''Undisclosed Criminal History'' ''' will result in a default discharge upon presentation of incontrovertible proof of criminal history. Discharging the member for an undisclosed criminal history falls exclusively to the Legion Captain of the Guard with the mutual consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer. An e-mail must be sent to the Garrison Commanding Officer if this clause applies to a member of his or her Garrison. Discharge of said member must occur within a reasonable time frame upon discovery and confirmation.<br />
<br />
====Hearings for Major Offenses ====<br />
If a hearing is required for a major offense, a poll will be set up in the hearing forum by the Legion Captain of the Guard. The poll for this type of hearing will include the following options: <br />
<br />
# Discharge <br />
# Exonerate <br />
<br />
A simple-majority of those voting will be needed to obtain a decision in a Major Offense hearing. If exoneration is chosen by those voting in the hearing poll, the member will automatically be placed on 1 to 2 year probation at the discretion of the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Lesser Offenses===<br />
<br />
====Conduct Unbecoming a Trooper====<br />
<br />
Legion members are expected to treat each other, our event sponsors, the public, and LucasFilm, Ltd. with common sense and respect. Examples of inappropriate behavior that may result in disciplinary action include, but are not limited to, the following: <br />
<br />
# Harassment of fellow members. <br />
# Merchandise and branding infractions <br />
# Abuse or violation of message board privileges <br />
# Inappropriate behavior during trooping or unit events <br />
# Inappropriate contact with an event host, sponsor, or LFL <br />
# Misrepresentation of a unit or the Legion<br />
<br />
<br />
===Dispute Resolution ===<br />
<br />
In an organization as large as ours, disputes and disagreements are bound to occur. With this in mind, the Legion requires that any disputes of a minor or semi-major degree must be resolved. Determination of the mechanism for dispute resolution resides with the Legion Captain of the Guard, the Legion Commanding Officer and the Garrison Commanding Officer. <br />
The policy in reference to Alternative Dispute Resolution is contained below. <br />
<br />
====Alternative Dispute Resolution====<br />
Alternative dispute resolution is used when a disagreement arises between two or more members that could escalate into a Charter violation. The Captain of the Guard, Commanding Officer, or Command Staff may recommend moderated mediation. All parties involved must agree to actively participate in good faith in the process in order for Alternative Dispute Resolution to be effective.<br />
<br />
The procedure for Alternative Dispute Resolution is as follows:<br />
<br />
# The Member(s) or Garrison Commanding Officer must submit a request for a hearing room in writing to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard and/or either or both Legion Commanding Officer or Legion Executive Officer will monitor and moderate all discussions occurring in a private hearing room on the Legion Forum. <br />
# Members are free to discuss their issues without prejudice. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer, or Legion Executive Officer will provide methods to enable resolution.<br />
# Resolution may be:<br />
#* mutual agreement of the parties involved<br />
#* an arbitrated settlement proposed by the COG, LCO, LXO and accepted by the Members involved in the dispute.<br />
# Failing Alternative Dispute Resolution, the command staff or the affected member may request a disciplinary hearing only after all other avenues have been exhausted. <br />
<br />
====Disciplinary Hearing Procedure====<br />
<br />
# A written complaint is filed with the Garrison command, and the Legion Captain of the Guard. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard will investigate and assess the merits of the charges.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, upon satisfactory determination of merit, will open a hearing forum on the Main Legion Forums.<br />
# At a time determined by the Captain of the Guard, the discussion phase of the hearing will be closed.<br />
# The COG will then open the hearing poll.<br />
<br />
During the course of any Legion hearing except under circumstances which have been previously outlined in the Legion Code of Conduct, a poll will be conducted at the conclusion of the proceedings. The poll will be presented to the complainants, and must contain the following options <br />
<br />
For first offenses:<br />
# Exonerate <br />
# Six month probation <br />
# One year probation <br />
# 6 Month suspension <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
<br />
For second offenses <br />
# Exonerate <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
# Discharge <br />
<br />
Requirements:<br />
# All disciplinary actions taken by the Garrison Commanding Officer must have the approval of and notification provided to the Legion Captain of the Guard<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer must be made aware of any appeal in writing.<br />
# All hearings and alternative dispute resolution meetings must take place on the Legion Forums in a private area sectioned off for such purposes.<br />
# Any member may appeal disciplinary actions at the local level to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Administrative Leave===<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete.<br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of &quot;Retired Status&quot; and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status.<br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member's status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
==Section 2: Membership==<br />
<br />
===Active Members===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements:<br />
# Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).<br />
# Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database<br />
# Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML.<br />
# Participates in at least one Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion.<br />
# Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements.<br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible.<br />
<br />
A member may retain active status, even if they do not meet all of the requirements listed above at the discretion of their unit Commanding Officer or Legion Command.<br />
<br />
An Active Member is eligible to:<br />
# Vote in polls of the Active Membership.<br />
# Vote in local and legion elections.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
<br />
===Reserve Members===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets &lt;del&gt;the following requirements:&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison).&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. &lt;/del&gt;<br />
&lt;span style=&quot;color: green&quot;&gt;all of the requirements of an Active Member, except for the annual costumed participation in a 501st Legion event, as defined above. A Reserve Member may still participate in a supporting role for the Garrison or Legion once per census year as defined above. Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their Garrison Commanding Officer as qualifying activities or contributions.&lt;/span&gt;<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums.<br />
# Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas. <br />
# Have access to Detachment forums.<br />
# Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator.<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Retain full access on the Legion Forums.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
===Retired Members===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following):<br />
# Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume.<br />
# Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than one year, and has not actively contributed to the Legion via non-costumed activity during that time.<br />
# Leaves the Legion voluntarily.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is eligible to:<br />
# Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator.<br />
# Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop.<br />
# Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Coordinate official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Access the main Legion forum.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
# Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section.<br />
<br />
===Suspended Members===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
<br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing.<br />
<br />
===Discharged Members===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Purchase or create official 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com.<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events and functions.<br />
# Have access to the 501st Legion or Legion Unit forums. <br />
# Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile.<br />
<br />
===In Memoriam===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing who has passed away.<br />
<br />
An In Memoriam member will have:<br />
# Their identification number preserved and not reissued.<br />
# Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page.<br />
<br />
===Honorary Members===<br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe.<br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment.<br />
An Honorary Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion===<br />
Friends of the Legion are individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for LucasFilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom. Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Section 3: Elections==<br />
<br />
The Legion Commanding Officer, Garrison Commanding Officer, Outpost Commanding Officer, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are all elected positions within the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective commander or leader. Only those in good standing are eligible to nominate, run for, and maintain elected or appointed positions. Elections for leadership positions are held once a year.<br />
<br />
# Legion elections will begin at 12:01am GMT on the 1st Saturday of February.<br />
# Nominations will be open for 5 days beginning on Saturday and concluding on the Wednesday immediately following.<br />
# At 12:01am GMT Thursday, the question-and-answer phase begins and runs for 5 days, closing on the Monday immediately following. The next 24 hours are reserved for candidates' closing statements.<br />
# Voting will open from Wednesday following the closing statements and be available for 5 days, ending on the following Sunday.<br />
# The remainder of the month is reserved for transitioning between administrations. Elected candidates will take office at 12:01am GMT on March 1st.<br />
<br />
Every active member in good standing may vote for their respective leaders. Members that are classified as reserve, retired, suspended, or discharged may not vote unless their status has been changed back to active before voting begins. Notice of upcoming elections will be posted on the Legion forum at least one week prior to the beginning of the nomination period. Notification of any elections to individual members is ultimately the job of Garrison and Outpost Commanding Officers for members in their region, and Detachment Leaders for members in their Detachments.<br />
<br />
The Legion Commander is elected by popular vote of the entire Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost Commanding Officers, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are all voted on by members of each respective unit by popular vote. Annual elections are mandatory for every unit.<br />
<br />
If no one challenges the incumbent leader of a unit, an election may be waived. <br />
<br />
If a member of a unit suspects impropriety in a campaign or subsequent election within their unit, a written appeal must be submitted to the Legion Captain of the Guard, who may intervene or audit an election. <br />
<br />
All Legion administrative officers are appointed by the Legion Commanding Officer, each of whom must be confirmed via a poll by the Legion Council prior to taking office. No such confirmations are required at the Garrison, Outpost, Squad, or Detachment level.<br />
<br />
===Qualifications===<br />
<br />
All offices require a member to be in good standing for the contiguous year immediately preceding election commencement.<br />
<br />
====Legion Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 3 years of 501st membership<br />
# Minimum 1 year of service in any of the following offices or functions:<br />
#* Garrison CO<br />
#* Garrison XO<br />
#* Outpost CO<br />
#* Second Council representative (of a Garrison)<br />
#* Legion administrative office (LXO, LCOG, LMO, LMBO, LPRO, LWM)<br />
<br />
====Garrison Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 1 year of 501st membership -OR- prior experience on the Garrison's executive council/command staff<br />
<br />
====Squad Leader====<br />
# Minimum of 6 months of 501st membership<br />
<br />
====Outpost Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 6 months of 501st membership (except for a brand new Outpost's inaugural CO)<br />
# Extenuating circumstances regarding length of membership and standing may be waived at the Legion Captain of the Guard's discretion.<br />
<br />
====Detachment Leader====<br />
# Minimum of 1 year of 501st membership<br />
# Ownership of a costume covered by the Detachment<br />
# Having trooped in a costume covered by the Detachment within 1 year of the commencement of the election<br />
# Extenuating circumstances regarding length of membership and standing may be waived at the Legion Captain of the Guard's discretion.<br />
<br />
===Emergency Elections===<br />
In the event a Commanding Officer or Leader of any unit is unable to continue in office, that unit must notify the Legion Captain of the Guard in writing and conduct an immediate election for a replacement. The election will follow the schedule of 5 days for nominations, 5 days for questions and answers, and 5 days for voting. These time frames may be altered by the Legion Captain of the Guard as necessary. During this time period, the unit's Executive Officer assumes the role of the acting commanding officer or leader until the elections are completed. <br />
<br />
If there is no Executive Officer or both the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer resign or are deemed unable to serve, the Legion Captain of the Guard will assume the nominal role of Commanding Officer or Leader for that unit and will administer the election until it is completed. In the case of Squads, acting leadership will fall to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer. A determination of inability to serve may be deduced from either voluntary self-removal or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness to communications from the Legion or its members.<br />
<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may address problems in leadership by calling for a recall election of their elected leader. A recall election against an Outpost Commanding Officer or Squad Leader requires only one active member of that unit. A recall election against a Garrison Commanding Officer or Detachment Leader requires three active members of that unit. A recall election against the Legion Commanding Officer requires five active Garrison Commanding Officers.<br />
<br />
If a request for a recall election is made, the Captain of the Guard will assess the merit of the request. If the Legion Captain of the Guard determines the complaint has merit, the LCOG, or their designated representative, will temporarily assume command of the unit in question (with the exception of Squads, which default to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer). <br />
<br />
The Legion Captain of the Guard will open a forum for 5 days to discuss the charges. After this, a poll will be opened for 5 days and a vote taken of the members of that unit (with the exception of Squads, which includes the entire Garrison's membership), with no minimum number of voters required. A recall vote must pass by at least two-thirds of the vote, in which case the Commander or Leader is removed from office immediately. Otherwise, the Commander or Leader retains the office. If a recall election does result in a removal from office, the Captain of the Guard will administer an emergency election as described above.<br />
<br />
No officer may be subject to a recall election more than twice in a single term.<br />
<br />
===Other===<br />
Appointed officers serve at the discretion of the elected official who appointed them, and are subject to being relieved of duty once the officer who appointed them is no longer in office. The incoming officer will have the option of retaining or replacing them.<br />
<br />
With any election, in the event of a tie, the poll will be reopened for three additional days in hopes that uncast votes will break the tie.<br />
<br />
In the event of no nominees or an unbreakable tie, the Legion Council will deliberate for 5 days and vote for 5 days to appoint a new interim leader for the unit in question until regular elections are held (with the exception of Squads, which default to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer for appointment).<br />
<br />
==Section 4: Merchandise &amp; Branding==<br />
<br />
This set of standards includes any item, print, or paraphernalia that bears the 501st Legion name, logo, or URL.<br />
<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, or the club URLs are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Such proposed items are to be submitted to the Merchandising and Branding Officer, who shall be responsible for the review and approval of any proposed merchandise of the Legion or any subdivision therein. The Merchandising and Branding Officer may impose additional regulations governing the production and/or distribution of such merchandise and make them available to the Legion. In the case of questionable material, the Legion Council has final word on approval.<br />
# 501st items must be free of vulgarity.<br />
# 501st items must be as free of copyrighted material as possible (including use of unmodified LFL photos or artwork).<br />
# 501st items must be sold only to club members and at cost except in sanctioned cases of fundraising approved by the Merchandising and Branding Officer and/or LFL.<br />
# 501st items must not be advertised anywhere open to the general public.<br />
# 501st items must not be tied to any outside commercial entity or venture without the express permission of LFL.<br />
# 501st items must not misrepresent or misidentify its user/wearer in any role other than as a member or supporter of the 501st Legion fan club. No shirt will bear the label &quot;Security&quot; or &quot;Staff&quot; unless created with the full permission of an event organizer and labeled specifically for that event only.<br />
# 501st items specifying a sub-unit of the club are allowed and encouraged. Such examples would be items promoting 501st Garrisons, Squads, and Detachments. All such items are still subject to the same rules that apply to Legion merchandise.<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-23T21:00:42Z<p>Crimson: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is ''Star Wars'', when in costume or otherwise acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing the ''Star Wars'' brand, members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The office of the LCOG interprets and enforces club rules. The office of the LCOG serves as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, oversees disciplinary hearings, moderates Legion elections, and maintains the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The office of the LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The office of the LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The office of the LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The office of the LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The office of the LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the active members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the active members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the ''Star Wars'' property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public unless authorized and approved by Legion Command. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and its sale shall be forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing or distributing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the office of the Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation or sale of props, costumes, or costume parts or materials by anyone for sale to others. The Legion will not intervene in private sales or transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and misconduct. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating Legion rules or the tenets thereof is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary complainant serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion Captain of the Guard or a designated representative.<br />
# All hearings are conducted on the Legion forum, unless otherwise directed by the LCOG<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute or hearing, members have the right to appeal the decision to the LCOG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the LCOG following an appeal is final.<br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
# Bylaws are additional rules, processes, and procedures to manage regular operations, provide guidelines and instruction. The Bylaws set expectations of actions and behaviors in and for the Legion and its members. Bylaws are found in the document titled [[OperationsProtocol|Operations Protocol]].<br />
# Amendments, alterations, or repeal of bylaws may be proposed by active Legion members to the Charter Review Committee directly. <br />
# The CRC will follow the same review, acceptance/rejection, and Council consultation process as described for Charter Amendments in Article VIII. <br />
# Completed proposals will be presented to the Legion members for ratification. <br />
# Amendments to the bylaws require a simple majority of the voting members to pass. <br />
# If passed, the proposal is incorporated into the bylaws and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-23T21:00:18Z<p>Crimson: /* Article XI: By Laws */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is ''Star Wars'', when in costume or otherwise acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing the ''Star Wars'' brand, members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The office of the LCOG interprets and enforces club rules. The office of the LCOG serves as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, oversees disciplinary hearings, moderates Legion elections, and maintains the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The office of the LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The office of the LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The office of the LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The office of the LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The office of the LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the active members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the active members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the ''Star Wars'' property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public unless authorized and approved by Legion Command. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and its sale shall be forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing or distributing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the office of the Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation or sale of props, costumes, or costume parts or materials by anyone for sale to others. The Legion will not intervene in private sales or transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and misconduct. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating Legion rules or the tenets thereof is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary complainant serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion Captain of the Guard or a designated representative.<br />
# All hearings are conducted on the Legion forum, unless otherwise directed by the LCOG<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute or hearing, members have the right to appeal the decision to the LCOG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the LCOG following an appeal is final.<br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
# Bylaws are additional rules, processes, and procedures to manage regular operations, provide guidelines and instruction. The Bylaws set expectations of actions and behaviors in and for the Legion and its members. Bylaws are found in the document titled [[OperationsProtocol|Operations Protocol]].<br />
# Amendments, alterations, or repeal of bylaws may be proposed by active Legion members to the Charter Review Committee directly. <br />
# The CRC will follow the same review, acceptance/rejection, and Council consultation process as described for Charter Amendments in Article VIII. <br />
# Completed proposals will be presented to the Legion members for ratification. <br />
# Amendments to the bylaws require a simple majority of the voting members to pass. <br />
# If passed, the proposal is incorporated into the bylaws and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-23T20:59:57Z<p>Crimson: /* Article XI: By Laws */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is ''Star Wars'', when in costume or otherwise acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing the ''Star Wars'' brand, members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The office of the LCOG interprets and enforces club rules. The office of the LCOG serves as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, oversees disciplinary hearings, moderates Legion elections, and maintains the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The office of the LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The office of the LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The office of the LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The office of the LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The office of the LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the active members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the active members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the ''Star Wars'' property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public unless authorized and approved by Legion Command. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and its sale shall be forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing or distributing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the office of the Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation or sale of props, costumes, or costume parts or materials by anyone for sale to others. The Legion will not intervene in private sales or transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and misconduct. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating Legion rules or the tenets thereof is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary complainant serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion Captain of the Guard or a designated representative.<br />
# All hearings are conducted on the Legion forum, unless otherwise directed by the LCOG<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute or hearing, members have the right to appeal the decision to the LCOG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the LCOG following an appeal is final.<br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
# Bylaws are additional rules, processes, and procedures to manage regular operations, provide guidelines and instruction. The Bylaws set expectations of actions and behaviors in and for the Legion and its members. Bylaws are found in the document titled [[operationsprotocol|Operations Protocol]].<br />
# Amendments, alterations, or repeal of bylaws may be proposed by active Legion members to the Charter Review Committee directly. <br />
# The CRC will follow the same review, acceptance/rejection, and Council consultation process as described for Charter Amendments in Article VIII. <br />
# Completed proposals will be presented to the Legion members for ratification. <br />
# Amendments to the bylaws require a simple majority of the voting members to pass. <br />
# If passed, the proposal is incorporated into the bylaws and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-23T20:58:50Z<p>Crimson: /* Article X: Disciplinary Action */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is ''Star Wars'', when in costume or otherwise acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing the ''Star Wars'' brand, members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The office of the LCOG interprets and enforces club rules. The office of the LCOG serves as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, oversees disciplinary hearings, moderates Legion elections, and maintains the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The office of the LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The office of the LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The office of the LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The office of the LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The office of the LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the active members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the active members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the ''Star Wars'' property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public unless authorized and approved by Legion Command. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and its sale shall be forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing or distributing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the office of the Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation or sale of props, costumes, or costume parts or materials by anyone for sale to others. The Legion will not intervene in private sales or transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and misconduct. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating Legion rules or the tenets thereof is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary complainant serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion Captain of the Guard or a designated representative.<br />
# All hearings are conducted on the Legion forum, unless otherwise directed by the LCOG<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute or hearing, members have the right to appeal the decision to the LCOG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the LCOG following an appeal is final.<br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-23T20:56:07Z<p>Crimson: /* Article IX: Merchandise and Branding */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is ''Star Wars'', when in costume or otherwise acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing the ''Star Wars'' brand, members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The office of the LCOG interprets and enforces club rules. The office of the LCOG serves as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, oversees disciplinary hearings, moderates Legion elections, and maintains the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The office of the LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The office of the LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The office of the LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The office of the LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The office of the LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the active members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the active members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the ''Star Wars'' property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public unless authorized and approved by Legion Command. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and its sale shall be forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing or distributing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the office of the Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation or sale of props, costumes, or costume parts or materials by anyone for sale to others. The Legion will not intervene in private sales or transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-23T20:52:25Z<p>Crimson: /* Article VII: Elections */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is ''Star Wars'', when in costume or otherwise acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing the ''Star Wars'' brand, members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The office of the LCOG interprets and enforces club rules. The office of the LCOG serves as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, oversees disciplinary hearings, moderates Legion elections, and maintains the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The office of the LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The office of the LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The office of the LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The office of the LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The office of the LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the active members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the active members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing, distributing, or possessing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to corrective action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the LMBO, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-23T20:51:50Z<p>Crimson: /* Article VI: Legion Officers */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is ''Star Wars'', when in costume or otherwise acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing the ''Star Wars'' brand, members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The office of the LCOG interprets and enforces club rules. The office of the LCOG serves as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, oversees disciplinary hearings, moderates Legion elections, and maintains the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The office of the LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The office of the LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The office of the LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The office of the LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The office of the LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing, distributing, or possessing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to corrective action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the LMBO, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-23T20:49:56Z<p>Crimson: /* Article V: Organization */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is ''Star Wars'', when in costume or otherwise acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing the ''Star Wars'' brand, members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commanding Officer, Legion Executive Officer, and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commanding Officer. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography.<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The LCOG interprets and enforces club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot; <br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing, distributing, or possessing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to corrective action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the LMBO, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-23T20:46:33Z<p>Crimson: /* Article IV: Membership */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is ''Star Wars'', when in costume or otherwise acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing the ''Star Wars'' brand, members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and quality of construction as required by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique operating number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members agree to use and wear their costumes in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography. <br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The LCOG interprets and enforces club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot; <br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing, distributing, or possessing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to corrective action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the LMBO, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-23T20:44:54Z<p>Crimson: /* Article III: Representation */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is ''Star Wars'', when in costume or otherwise acting on behalf of the Legion. While representing the ''Star Wars'' brand, members agree to do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and construction as required by the Legion, and wear it in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique Operating Number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision. <br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography. <br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The LCOG interprets and enforces club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot; <br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing, distributing, or possessing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to corrective action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the LMBO, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocolOperationsProtocol2011-09-23T15:13:41Z<p>Crimson: /* Section 4: Merchandise &amp; Branding */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
The Operations Protocol is a supplemental set of rules, guidelines, and instructions for day-to-day operations of the 501st Legion. The Operations Protocol acts as the bylaws of the organization, as referenced in the [[LegionCharter|Legion Charter]].<br />
<br />
==Section 1: Code of Conduct==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that its costumes represent characters from the Star Wars films and as such, costume-wearers carry the responsibility of portraying these characters professionally and tastefully while in public. For these reasons, all members are prohibited from acting in a manner disrespectful towards the image they are portraying, towards fellow club members, or towards the public at large while in costume at any event where the 501st Legion or its sub-units and members are participants.<br />
<br />
Membership in the 501st Legion is a privilege granted by this private club, not a social or legal right. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion maintains that part of the fun of trooping is to be able to do so in reasonable safety. It is the intention of the Legion to provide an outline of behavior wherein it has a Code of conduct for the safety and security of its members. Violations of the code of conduct listed below as items 1 through 5 as determined by a hearing or other incontrovertible evidence will result in immediate termination of membership. <br />
<br />
The policy encompasses those behaviors thought by society to be violent, illegal, or anti-social in nature. It is not the intent of the Legion to abridge the standard rights or practices of the individual member, but rather to protect all members from the defined behavior of any member engaging in such behavior. In any event, common sense must prevail. <br />
<br />
There are, however, other behaviors that do not require such extreme actions. It is the intent of the Legion to reduce the number of cases requiring removal where other less extreme actions can and will suffice. <br />
<br />
===Major Offenses===<br />
# '''Violent or threatening acts against a member of the 501st Legion.''' These acts are defined as:<br />
#* Physically striking another member with the intent to cause bodily harm with or without cause, unless defending one’s self from a violent attack. <br />
#* Threatening harm against the person or property of an individual via phone/ voice mail, forum, electronic social media or in writing. (Threats must be direct and unmistakable to the average person) <br />
#* Cease and Desist orders or other legal action or documents issued by a member’s attorney due to justified and properly documented disciplinary action by the GCO or LCOG. <br />
# '''Trooping under the influence of an illegal substance.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Arriving to a troop under the influence of a Illegal substance. <br />
#* Use, distribution, or administration of an illegal substance during a 501st event. <br />
# '''Violent or sexual acts against children.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Physically striking a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
#* Sexual advances, or sexual acts engaged with a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
# '''Embezzlement of funds intended for charitable donation.''' While the 501st's official policy is that all funds intended for charity must be submitted by the donor directly to the charity of choice, it has been concluded that in some rare occasions, money will be given directly to a representative of the 501st. Embezzlement is defined as: <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity within three business weeks following the event. <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity. <br />
#* Spending funds intended for charitable donations on personal or group expenses, including but not limited to patches, coins, cards, and personal expenses including and not limited to any expense which can be viewed as a &quot;living expense.&quot;<br />
# '''Undisclosed criminal history''', which involve the following types of criminal history:<br />
#* Felony drug offenses <br />
#* Sex offender registry entry <br />
#* Felony embezzlement. <br />
#* Felony violent crimes <br />
<br />
<br />
If a member is found guilty of any of the above listed items of the Code of Conduct, he or she has the option to submit an appeal to the Legion Captain of the Guard within one week after notification of the termination of membership. <br />
<br />
''' ''Undisclosed Criminal History'' ''' will result in a default discharge upon presentation of incontrovertible proof of criminal history. Discharging the member for an undisclosed criminal history falls exclusively to the Legion Captain of the Guard with the mutual consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer. An e-mail must be sent to the Garrison Commanding Officer if this clause applies to a member of his or her Garrison. Discharge of said member must occur within a reasonable time frame upon discovery and confirmation.<br />
<br />
====Hearings for Major Offenses ====<br />
If a hearing is required for a major offense, a poll will be set up in the hearing forum by the Legion Captain of the Guard. The poll for this type of hearing will include the following options: <br />
<br />
# Discharge <br />
# Exonerate <br />
<br />
A simple-majority of those voting will be needed to obtain a decision in a Major Offense hearing. If exoneration is chosen by those voting in the hearing poll, the member will automatically be placed on 1 to 2 year probation at the discretion of the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Lesser Offenses===<br />
<br />
====Conduct Unbecoming a Trooper====<br />
<br />
Legion members are expected to treat each other, our event sponsors, the public, and LucasFilm, Ltd. with common sense and respect. Examples of inappropriate behavior that may result in disciplinary action include, but are not limited to, the following: <br />
<br />
# Harassment of fellow members. <br />
# Merchandise and branding infractions <br />
# Abuse or violation of message board privileges <br />
# Inappropriate behavior during trooping or unit events <br />
# Inappropriate contact with an event host, sponsor, or LFL <br />
# Misrepresentation of a unit or the Legion<br />
<br />
<br />
===Dispute Resolution ===<br />
<br />
In an organization as large as ours, disputes and disagreements are bound to occur. With this in mind, the Legion requires that any disputes of a minor or semi-major degree must be resolved. Determination of the mechanism for dispute resolution resides with the Legion Captain of the Guard, the Legion Commanding Officer and the Garrison Commanding Officer. <br />
The policy in reference to Alternative Dispute Resolution is contained below. <br />
<br />
====Alternative Dispute Resolution====<br />
Alternative dispute resolution is used when a disagreement arises between two or more members that could escalate into a Charter violation. The Captain of the Guard, Commanding Officer, or Command Staff may recommend moderated mediation. All parties involved must agree to actively participate in good faith in the process in order for Alternative Dispute Resolution to be effective.<br />
<br />
The procedure for Alternative Dispute Resolution is as follows:<br />
<br />
# The Member(s) or Garrison Commanding Officer must submit a request for a hearing room in writing to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard and/or either or both Legion Commanding Officer or Legion Executive Officer will monitor and moderate all discussions occurring in a private hearing room on the Legion Forum. <br />
# Members are free to discuss their issues without prejudice. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer, or Legion Executive Officer will provide methods to enable resolution.<br />
# Resolution may be:<br />
#* mutual agreement of the parties involved<br />
#* an arbitrated settlement proposed by the COG, LCO, LXO and accepted by the Members involved in the dispute.<br />
# Failing Alternative Dispute Resolution, the command staff or the affected member may request a disciplinary hearing only after all other avenues have been exhausted. <br />
<br />
====Disciplinary Hearing Procedure====<br />
<br />
# A written complaint is filed with the Garrison command, and the Legion Captain of the Guard. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard will investigate and assess the merits of the charges.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, upon satisfactory determination of merit, will open a hearing forum on the Main Legion Forums.<br />
# At a time determined by the Captain of the Guard, the discussion phase of the hearing will be closed.<br />
# The COG will then open the hearing poll.<br />
<br />
During the course of any Legion hearing except under circumstances which have been previously outlined in the Legion Code of Conduct, a poll will be conducted at the conclusion of the proceedings. The poll will be presented to the complainants, and must contain the following options <br />
<br />
For first offenses:<br />
# Exonerate <br />
# Six month probation <br />
# One year probation <br />
# 6 Month suspension <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
<br />
For second offenses <br />
# Exonerate <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
# Discharge <br />
<br />
Requirements:<br />
# All disciplinary actions taken by the Garrison Commanding Officer must have the approval of and notification provided to the Legion Captain of the Guard<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer must be made aware of any appeal in writing.<br />
# All hearings and alternative dispute resolution meetings must take place on the Legion Forums in a private area sectioned off for such purposes.<br />
# Any member may appeal disciplinary actions at the local level to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Administrative Leave===<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete.<br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of &quot;Retired Status&quot; and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status.<br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member's status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
==Section 2: Membership==<br />
<br />
===Active Members===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements:<br />
# Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).<br />
# Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database<br />
# Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML.<br />
# Participates in at least one Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion.<br />
# Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements.<br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible.<br />
<br />
A member may retain active status, even if they do not meet all of the requirements listed above at the discretion of their unit Commanding Officer or Legion Command.<br />
<br />
An Active Member is eligible to:<br />
# Vote in polls of the Active Membership.<br />
# Vote in local and legion elections.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
<br />
===Reserve Members===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets &lt;del&gt;the following requirements:&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison).&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. &lt;/del&gt;<br />
&lt;span style=&quot;color: green&quot;&gt;all of the requirements of an Active Member, except for the annual costumed participation in a 501st Legion event, as defined above. A Reserve Member may still participate in a supporting role for the Garrison or Legion once per census year as defined above. Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their Garrison Commanding Officer as qualifying activities or contributions.&lt;/span&gt;<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums.<br />
# Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas. <br />
# Have access to Detachment forums.<br />
# Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator.<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Retain full access on the Legion Forums.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
===Retired Members===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following):<br />
# Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume.<br />
# Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than one year, and has not actively contributed to the Legion via non-costumed activity during that time.<br />
# Leaves the Legion voluntarily.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is eligible to:<br />
# Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator.<br />
# Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop.<br />
# Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Coordinate official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Access the main Legion forum.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
# Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section.<br />
<br />
===Suspended Members===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
<br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing.<br />
<br />
===Discharged Members===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Purchase or create official 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com.<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events and functions.<br />
# Have access to the 501st Legion or Legion Unit forums. <br />
# Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile.<br />
<br />
===In Memoriam===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing who has passed away.<br />
<br />
An In Memoriam member will have:<br />
# Their identification number preserved and not reissued.<br />
# Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page.<br />
<br />
===Honorary Members===<br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe.<br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment.<br />
An Honorary Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion===<br />
Friends of the Legion are individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for LucasFilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom. Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Section 3: Elections==<br />
<br />
The Legion Commanding Officer, Garrison Commanding Officer, Outpost Commanding Officer, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are all elected positions within the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective commander or leader. Only those in good standing are eligible to nominate, run for, and maintain elected or appointed positions. Elections for leadership positions are held once a year.<br />
<br />
# Legion elections will begin at 12:01am GMT on the 1st Saturday of February.<br />
# Nominations will be open for 5 days beginning on Saturday and concluding on the Wednesday immediately following.<br />
# At 12:01am GMT Thursday, the question-and-answer phase begins and runs for 5 days, closing on the Monday immediately following. The next 24 hours are reserved for candidates' closing statements.<br />
# Voting will open from Wednesday following the closing statements and be available for 5 days, ending on the following Sunday.<br />
# The remainder of the month is reserved for transitioning between administrations. Elected candidates will take office at 12:01am GMT on March 1st.<br />
<br />
Every active member in good standing may vote for their respective leaders. Members that are classified as reserve, retired, suspended, or discharged may not vote unless their status has been changed back to active before voting begins. Notice of upcoming elections will be posted on the Legion forum at least one week prior to the beginning of the nomination period. Notification of any elections to individual members is ultimately the job of Garrison and Outpost Commanding Officers for members in their region, and Detachment Leaders for members in their Detachments.<br />
<br />
The Legion Commander is elected by popular vote of the entire Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost Commanding Officers, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are all voted on by members of each respective unit by popular vote. Annual elections are mandatory for every unit.<br />
<br />
If no one challenges the incumbent leader of a unit, an election may be waived. <br />
<br />
If a member of a unit suspects impropriety in a campaign or subsequent election within their unit, a written appeal must be submitted to the Legion Captain of the Guard, who may intervene or audit an election. <br />
<br />
All Legion administrative officers are appointed by the Legion Commanding Officer, each of whom must be confirmed via a poll by the Legion Council prior to taking office. No such confirmations are required at the Garrison, Outpost, Squad, or Detachment level.<br />
<br />
===Qualifications===<br />
<br />
All offices require a member to be in good standing for the contiguous year immediately preceding election commencement.<br />
<br />
====Legion Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 3 years of 501st membership<br />
# Minimum 1 year of service in any of the following offices or functions:<br />
#* Garrison CO<br />
#* Garrison XO<br />
#* Outpost CO<br />
#* Second Council representative (of a Garrison)<br />
#* Legion administrative office (LXO, LCOG, LMO, LMBO, LPRO, LWM)<br />
<br />
====Garrison Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 1 year of 501st membership -OR- prior experience on the Garrison's executive council/command staff<br />
<br />
====Squad Leader====<br />
# Minimum of 6 months of 501st membership<br />
<br />
====Outpost Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 6 months of 501st membership (except for a brand new Outpost's inaugural CO)<br />
# Extenuating circumstances regarding length of membership and standing may be waived at the Legion Captain of the Guard's discretion.<br />
<br />
====Detachment Leader====<br />
# Minimum of 1 year of 501st membership<br />
# Ownership of a costume covered by the Detachment<br />
# Having trooped in a costume covered by the Detachment within 1 year of the commencement of the election<br />
# Extenuating circumstances regarding length of membership and standing may be waived at the Legion Captain of the Guard's discretion.<br />
<br />
===Emergency Elections===<br />
In the event a Commanding Officer or Leader of any unit is unable to continue in office, that unit must notify the Legion Captain of the Guard in writing and conduct an immediate election for a replacement. The election will follow the schedule of 5 days for nominations, 5 days for questions and answers, and 5 days for voting. These time frames may be altered by the Legion Captain of the Guard as necessary. During this time period, the unit's Executive Officer assumes the role of the acting commanding officer or leader until the elections are completed. <br />
<br />
If there is no Executive Officer or both the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer resign or are deemed unable to serve, the Legion Captain of the Guard will assume the nominal role of Commanding Officer or Leader for that unit and will administer the election until it is completed. In the case of Squads, acting leadership will fall to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer. A determination of inability to serve may be deduced from either voluntary self-removal or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness to communications from the Legion or its members.<br />
<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may address problems in leadership by calling for a recall election of their elected leader. A recall election against an Outpost Commanding Officer or Squad Leader requires only one active member of that unit. A recall election against a Garrison Commanding Officer or Detachment Leader requires three active members of that unit. A recall election against the Legion Commanding Officer requires five active Garrison Commanding Officers.<br />
<br />
If a request for a recall election is made, the Captain of the Guard will assess the merit of the request. If the Legion Captain of the Guard determines the complaint has merit, the LCOG, or their designated representative, will temporarily assume command of the unit in question (with the exception of Squads, which default to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer). <br />
<br />
The Legion Captain of the Guard will open a forum for 5 days to discuss the charges. After this, a poll will be opened for 5 days and a vote taken of the members of that unit (with the exception of Squads, which includes the entire Garrison's membership), with no minimum number of voters required. A recall vote must pass by at least two-thirds of the vote, in which case the Commander or Leader is removed from office immediately. Otherwise, the Commander or Leader retains the office. If a recall election does result in a removal from office, the Captain of the Guard will administer an emergency election as described above.<br />
<br />
No officer may be subject to a recall election more than twice in a single term.<br />
<br />
===Other===<br />
Appointed officers serve at the discretion of the elected official who appointed them, and are subject to being relieved of duty once the officer who appointed them is no longer in office. The incoming officer will have the option of retaining or replacing them.<br />
<br />
With any election, in the event of a tie, the poll will be reopened for three additional days in hopes that uncast votes will break the tie.<br />
<br />
In the event of no nominees or an unbreakable tie, the Legion Council will deliberate for 5 days and vote for 5 days to appoint a new interim leader for the unit in question until regular elections are held (with the exception of Squads, which default to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer for appointment).<br />
<br />
==Section 4: Merchandise &amp; Branding==<br />
<br />
This set of standards includes any item, print, or paraphernalia that bears the 501st Legion name, logo, or URL.<br />
<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, or the club URLs are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Such proposed items are to be submitted to the Merchandising and Branding Officer, who shall be responsible for the review and approval of any proposed merchandise of the Legion or any subdivision therein. The Merchandising and Branding Officer may impose additional regulations governing the production and/or distribution of such merchandise and make them available to the Legion. In the case of questionable material, the Legion Council has final word on approval.<br />
# 501st items must be free of vulgarity.<br />
# 501st items must be as free of copyrighted material as possible (including use of unmodified LFL photos or artwork).<br />
# 501st items must be sold only to club members and at cost except in sanctioned cases of fundraising approved by the Merchandising and Branding Officer and/or LFL.<br />
# 501st items must not be advertised anywhere open to the general public.<br />
# 501st items must not be tied to any outside commercial entity or venture without the express permission of LFL.<br />
# 501st items must not misrepresent or misidentify its user/wearer in any role other than as a member or supporter of the 501st Legion fan club. No shirt will bear the label &quot;Security&quot; or &quot;Staff&quot; unless created with the full permission of an event organizer and labeled specifically for that event only.<br />
# 501st items specifying a sub-unit of the club are allowed and encouraged. Such examples would be items promoting 501st Garrisons, Squads, and Detachments. All such items are still subject to the same rules that apply to Legion merchandise.</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocolOperationsProtocol2011-09-23T15:11:09Z<p>Crimson: /* Section 3: Elections */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
The Operations Protocol is a supplemental set of rules, guidelines, and instructions for day-to-day operations of the 501st Legion. The Operations Protocol acts as the bylaws of the organization, as referenced in the [[LegionCharter|Legion Charter]].<br />
<br />
==Section 1: Code of Conduct==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that its costumes represent characters from the Star Wars films and as such, costume-wearers carry the responsibility of portraying these characters professionally and tastefully while in public. For these reasons, all members are prohibited from acting in a manner disrespectful towards the image they are portraying, towards fellow club members, or towards the public at large while in costume at any event where the 501st Legion or its sub-units and members are participants.<br />
<br />
Membership in the 501st Legion is a privilege granted by this private club, not a social or legal right. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion maintains that part of the fun of trooping is to be able to do so in reasonable safety. It is the intention of the Legion to provide an outline of behavior wherein it has a Code of conduct for the safety and security of its members. Violations of the code of conduct listed below as items 1 through 5 as determined by a hearing or other incontrovertible evidence will result in immediate termination of membership. <br />
<br />
The policy encompasses those behaviors thought by society to be violent, illegal, or anti-social in nature. It is not the intent of the Legion to abridge the standard rights or practices of the individual member, but rather to protect all members from the defined behavior of any member engaging in such behavior. In any event, common sense must prevail. <br />
<br />
There are, however, other behaviors that do not require such extreme actions. It is the intent of the Legion to reduce the number of cases requiring removal where other less extreme actions can and will suffice. <br />
<br />
===Major Offenses===<br />
# '''Violent or threatening acts against a member of the 501st Legion.''' These acts are defined as:<br />
#* Physically striking another member with the intent to cause bodily harm with or without cause, unless defending one’s self from a violent attack. <br />
#* Threatening harm against the person or property of an individual via phone/ voice mail, forum, electronic social media or in writing. (Threats must be direct and unmistakable to the average person) <br />
#* Cease and Desist orders or other legal action or documents issued by a member’s attorney due to justified and properly documented disciplinary action by the GCO or LCOG. <br />
# '''Trooping under the influence of an illegal substance.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Arriving to a troop under the influence of a Illegal substance. <br />
#* Use, distribution, or administration of an illegal substance during a 501st event. <br />
# '''Violent or sexual acts against children.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Physically striking a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
#* Sexual advances, or sexual acts engaged with a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
# '''Embezzlement of funds intended for charitable donation.''' While the 501st's official policy is that all funds intended for charity must be submitted by the donor directly to the charity of choice, it has been concluded that in some rare occasions, money will be given directly to a representative of the 501st. Embezzlement is defined as: <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity within three business weeks following the event. <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity. <br />
#* Spending funds intended for charitable donations on personal or group expenses, including but not limited to patches, coins, cards, and personal expenses including and not limited to any expense which can be viewed as a &quot;living expense.&quot;<br />
# '''Undisclosed criminal history''', which involve the following types of criminal history:<br />
#* Felony drug offenses <br />
#* Sex offender registry entry <br />
#* Felony embezzlement. <br />
#* Felony violent crimes <br />
<br />
<br />
If a member is found guilty of any of the above listed items of the Code of Conduct, he or she has the option to submit an appeal to the Legion Captain of the Guard within one week after notification of the termination of membership. <br />
<br />
''' ''Undisclosed Criminal History'' ''' will result in a default discharge upon presentation of incontrovertible proof of criminal history. Discharging the member for an undisclosed criminal history falls exclusively to the Legion Captain of the Guard with the mutual consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer. An e-mail must be sent to the Garrison Commanding Officer if this clause applies to a member of his or her Garrison. Discharge of said member must occur within a reasonable time frame upon discovery and confirmation.<br />
<br />
====Hearings for Major Offenses ====<br />
If a hearing is required for a major offense, a poll will be set up in the hearing forum by the Legion Captain of the Guard. The poll for this type of hearing will include the following options: <br />
<br />
# Discharge <br />
# Exonerate <br />
<br />
A simple-majority of those voting will be needed to obtain a decision in a Major Offense hearing. If exoneration is chosen by those voting in the hearing poll, the member will automatically be placed on 1 to 2 year probation at the discretion of the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Lesser Offenses===<br />
<br />
====Conduct Unbecoming a Trooper====<br />
<br />
Legion members are expected to treat each other, our event sponsors, the public, and LucasFilm, Ltd. with common sense and respect. Examples of inappropriate behavior that may result in disciplinary action include, but are not limited to, the following: <br />
<br />
# Harassment of fellow members. <br />
# Merchandise and branding infractions <br />
# Abuse or violation of message board privileges <br />
# Inappropriate behavior during trooping or unit events <br />
# Inappropriate contact with an event host, sponsor, or LFL <br />
# Misrepresentation of a unit or the Legion<br />
<br />
<br />
===Dispute Resolution ===<br />
<br />
In an organization as large as ours, disputes and disagreements are bound to occur. With this in mind, the Legion requires that any disputes of a minor or semi-major degree must be resolved. Determination of the mechanism for dispute resolution resides with the Legion Captain of the Guard, the Legion Commanding Officer and the Garrison Commanding Officer. <br />
The policy in reference to Alternative Dispute Resolution is contained below. <br />
<br />
====Alternative Dispute Resolution====<br />
Alternative dispute resolution is used when a disagreement arises between two or more members that could escalate into a Charter violation. The Captain of the Guard, Commanding Officer, or Command Staff may recommend moderated mediation. All parties involved must agree to actively participate in good faith in the process in order for Alternative Dispute Resolution to be effective.<br />
<br />
The procedure for Alternative Dispute Resolution is as follows:<br />
<br />
# The Member(s) or Garrison Commanding Officer must submit a request for a hearing room in writing to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard and/or either or both Legion Commanding Officer or Legion Executive Officer will monitor and moderate all discussions occurring in a private hearing room on the Legion Forum. <br />
# Members are free to discuss their issues without prejudice. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer, or Legion Executive Officer will provide methods to enable resolution.<br />
# Resolution may be:<br />
#* mutual agreement of the parties involved<br />
#* an arbitrated settlement proposed by the COG, LCO, LXO and accepted by the Members involved in the dispute.<br />
# Failing Alternative Dispute Resolution, the command staff or the affected member may request a disciplinary hearing only after all other avenues have been exhausted. <br />
<br />
====Disciplinary Hearing Procedure====<br />
<br />
# A written complaint is filed with the Garrison command, and the Legion Captain of the Guard. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard will investigate and assess the merits of the charges.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, upon satisfactory determination of merit, will open a hearing forum on the Main Legion Forums.<br />
# At a time determined by the Captain of the Guard, the discussion phase of the hearing will be closed.<br />
# The COG will then open the hearing poll.<br />
<br />
During the course of any Legion hearing except under circumstances which have been previously outlined in the Legion Code of Conduct, a poll will be conducted at the conclusion of the proceedings. The poll will be presented to the complainants, and must contain the following options <br />
<br />
For first offenses:<br />
# Exonerate <br />
# Six month probation <br />
# One year probation <br />
# 6 Month suspension <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
<br />
For second offenses <br />
# Exonerate <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
# Discharge <br />
<br />
Requirements:<br />
# All disciplinary actions taken by the Garrison Commanding Officer must have the approval of and notification provided to the Legion Captain of the Guard<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer must be made aware of any appeal in writing.<br />
# All hearings and alternative dispute resolution meetings must take place on the Legion Forums in a private area sectioned off for such purposes.<br />
# Any member may appeal disciplinary actions at the local level to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Administrative Leave===<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete.<br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of &quot;Retired Status&quot; and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status.<br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member's status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
==Section 2: Membership==<br />
<br />
===Active Members===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements:<br />
# Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).<br />
# Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database<br />
# Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML.<br />
# Participates in at least one Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion.<br />
# Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements.<br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible.<br />
<br />
A member may retain active status, even if they do not meet all of the requirements listed above at the discretion of their unit Commanding Officer or Legion Command.<br />
<br />
An Active Member is eligible to:<br />
# Vote in polls of the Active Membership.<br />
# Vote in local and legion elections.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
<br />
===Reserve Members===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets &lt;del&gt;the following requirements:&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison).&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. &lt;/del&gt;<br />
&lt;span style=&quot;color: green&quot;&gt;all of the requirements of an Active Member, except for the annual costumed participation in a 501st Legion event, as defined above. A Reserve Member may still participate in a supporting role for the Garrison or Legion once per census year as defined above. Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their Garrison Commanding Officer as qualifying activities or contributions.&lt;/span&gt;<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums.<br />
# Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas. <br />
# Have access to Detachment forums.<br />
# Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator.<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Retain full access on the Legion Forums.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
===Retired Members===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following):<br />
# Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume.<br />
# Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than one year, and has not actively contributed to the Legion via non-costumed activity during that time.<br />
# Leaves the Legion voluntarily.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is eligible to:<br />
# Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator.<br />
# Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop.<br />
# Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Coordinate official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Access the main Legion forum.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
# Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section.<br />
<br />
===Suspended Members===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
<br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing.<br />
<br />
===Discharged Members===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Purchase or create official 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com.<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events and functions.<br />
# Have access to the 501st Legion or Legion Unit forums. <br />
# Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile.<br />
<br />
===In Memoriam===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing who has passed away.<br />
<br />
An In Memoriam member will have:<br />
# Their identification number preserved and not reissued.<br />
# Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page.<br />
<br />
===Honorary Members===<br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe.<br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment.<br />
An Honorary Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion===<br />
Friends of the Legion are individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for LucasFilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom. Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Section 3: Elections==<br />
<br />
The Legion Commanding Officer, Garrison Commanding Officer, Outpost Commanding Officer, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are all elected positions within the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective commander or leader. Only those in good standing are eligible to nominate, run for, and maintain elected or appointed positions. Elections for leadership positions are held once a year.<br />
<br />
# Legion elections will begin at 12:01am GMT on the 1st Saturday of February.<br />
# Nominations will be open for 5 days beginning on Saturday and concluding on the Wednesday immediately following.<br />
# At 12:01am GMT Thursday, the question-and-answer phase begins and runs for 5 days, closing on the Monday immediately following. The next 24 hours are reserved for candidates' closing statements.<br />
# Voting will open from Wednesday following the closing statements and be available for 5 days, ending on the following Sunday.<br />
# The remainder of the month is reserved for transitioning between administrations. Elected candidates will take office at 12:01am GMT on March 1st.<br />
<br />
Every active member in good standing may vote for their respective leaders. Members that are classified as reserve, retired, suspended, or discharged may not vote unless their status has been changed back to active before voting begins. Notice of upcoming elections will be posted on the Legion forum at least one week prior to the beginning of the nomination period. Notification of any elections to individual members is ultimately the job of Garrison and Outpost Commanding Officers for members in their region, and Detachment Leaders for members in their Detachments.<br />
<br />
The Legion Commander is elected by popular vote of the entire Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost Commanding Officers, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are all voted on by members of each respective unit by popular vote. Annual elections are mandatory for every unit.<br />
<br />
If no one challenges the incumbent leader of a unit, an election may be waived. <br />
<br />
If a member of a unit suspects impropriety in a campaign or subsequent election within their unit, a written appeal must be submitted to the Legion Captain of the Guard, who may intervene or audit an election. <br />
<br />
All Legion administrative officers are appointed by the Legion Commanding Officer, each of whom must be confirmed via a poll by the Legion Council prior to taking office. No such confirmations are required at the Garrison, Outpost, Squad, or Detachment level.<br />
<br />
===Qualifications===<br />
<br />
All offices require a member to be in good standing for the contiguous year immediately preceding election commencement.<br />
<br />
====Legion Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 3 years of 501st membership<br />
# Minimum 1 year of service in any of the following offices or functions:<br />
#* Garrison CO<br />
#* Garrison XO<br />
#* Outpost CO<br />
#* Second Council representative (of a Garrison)<br />
#* Legion administrative office (LXO, LCOG, LMO, LMBO, LPRO, LWM)<br />
<br />
====Garrison Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 1 year of 501st membership -OR- prior experience on the Garrison's executive council/command staff<br />
<br />
====Squad Leader====<br />
# Minimum of 6 months of 501st membership<br />
<br />
====Outpost Commanding Officer====<br />
# Minimum of 6 months of 501st membership (except for a brand new Outpost's inaugural CO)<br />
# Extenuating circumstances regarding length of membership and standing may be waived at the Legion Captain of the Guard's discretion.<br />
<br />
====Detachment Leader====<br />
# Minimum of 1 year of 501st membership<br />
# Ownership of a costume covered by the Detachment<br />
# Having trooped in a costume covered by the Detachment within 1 year of the commencement of the election<br />
# Extenuating circumstances regarding length of membership and standing may be waived at the Legion Captain of the Guard's discretion.<br />
<br />
===Emergency Elections===<br />
In the event a Commanding Officer or Leader of any unit is unable to continue in office, that unit must notify the Legion Captain of the Guard in writing and conduct an immediate election for a replacement. The election will follow the schedule of 5 days for nominations, 5 days for questions and answers, and 5 days for voting. These time frames may be altered by the Legion Captain of the Guard as necessary. During this time period, the unit's Executive Officer assumes the role of the acting commanding officer or leader until the elections are completed. <br />
<br />
If there is no Executive Officer or both the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer resign or are deemed unable to serve, the Legion Captain of the Guard will assume the nominal role of Commanding Officer or Leader for that unit and will administer the election until it is completed. In the case of Squads, acting leadership will fall to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer. A determination of inability to serve may be deduced from either voluntary self-removal or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness to communications from the Legion or its members.<br />
<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may address problems in leadership by calling for a recall election of their elected leader. A recall election against an Outpost Commanding Officer or Squad Leader requires only one active member of that unit. A recall election against a Garrison Commanding Officer or Detachment Leader requires three active members of that unit. A recall election against the Legion Commanding Officer requires five active Garrison Commanding Officers.<br />
<br />
If a request for a recall election is made, the Captain of the Guard will assess the merit of the request. If the Legion Captain of the Guard determines the complaint has merit, the LCOG, or their designated representative, will temporarily assume command of the unit in question (with the exception of Squads, which default to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer). <br />
<br />
The Legion Captain of the Guard will open a forum for 5 days to discuss the charges. After this, a poll will be opened for 5 days and a vote taken of the members of that unit (with the exception of Squads, which includes the entire Garrison's membership), with no minimum number of voters required. A recall vote must pass by at least two-thirds of the vote, in which case the Commander or Leader is removed from office immediately. Otherwise, the Commander or Leader retains the office. If a recall election does result in a removal from office, the Captain of the Guard will administer an emergency election as described above.<br />
<br />
No officer may be subject to a recall election more than twice in a single term.<br />
<br />
===Other===<br />
Appointed officers serve at the discretion of the elected official who appointed them, and are subject to being relieved of duty once the officer who appointed them is no longer in office. The incoming officer will have the option of retaining or replacing them.<br />
<br />
With any election, in the event of a tie, the poll will be reopened for three additional days in hopes that uncast votes will break the tie.<br />
<br />
In the event of no nominees or an unbreakable tie, the Legion Council will deliberate for 5 days and vote for 5 days to appoint a new interim leader for the unit in question until regular elections are held (with the exception of Squads, which default to the parent Garrison's Commanding Officer for appointment).<br />
<br />
==Section 4: Merchandise &amp; Branding==</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocolOperationsProtocol2011-09-23T14:43:20Z<p>Crimson: /* Section 2: Membership */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
The Operations Protocol is a supplemental set of rules, guidelines, and instructions for day-to-day operations of the 501st Legion. The Operations Protocol acts as the bylaws of the organization, as referenced in the [[LegionCharter|Legion Charter]].<br />
<br />
==Section 1: Code of Conduct==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that its costumes represent characters from the Star Wars films and as such, costume-wearers carry the responsibility of portraying these characters professionally and tastefully while in public. For these reasons, all members are prohibited from acting in a manner disrespectful towards the image they are portraying, towards fellow club members, or towards the public at large while in costume at any event where the 501st Legion or its sub-units and members are participants.<br />
<br />
Membership in the 501st Legion is a privilege granted by this private club, not a social or legal right. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion maintains that part of the fun of trooping is to be able to do so in reasonable safety. It is the intention of the Legion to provide an outline of behavior wherein it has a Code of conduct for the safety and security of its members. Violations of the code of conduct listed below as items 1 through 5 as determined by a hearing or other incontrovertible evidence will result in immediate termination of membership. <br />
<br />
The policy encompasses those behaviors thought by society to be violent, illegal, or anti-social in nature. It is not the intent of the Legion to abridge the standard rights or practices of the individual member, but rather to protect all members from the defined behavior of any member engaging in such behavior. In any event, common sense must prevail. <br />
<br />
There are, however, other behaviors that do not require such extreme actions. It is the intent of the Legion to reduce the number of cases requiring removal where other less extreme actions can and will suffice. <br />
<br />
===Major Offenses===<br />
# '''Violent or threatening acts against a member of the 501st Legion.''' These acts are defined as:<br />
#* Physically striking another member with the intent to cause bodily harm with or without cause, unless defending one’s self from a violent attack. <br />
#* Threatening harm against the person or property of an individual via phone/ voice mail, forum, electronic social media or in writing. (Threats must be direct and unmistakable to the average person) <br />
#* Cease and Desist orders or other legal action or documents issued by a member’s attorney due to justified and properly documented disciplinary action by the GCO or LCOG. <br />
# '''Trooping under the influence of an illegal substance.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Arriving to a troop under the influence of a Illegal substance. <br />
#* Use, distribution, or administration of an illegal substance during a 501st event. <br />
# '''Violent or sexual acts against children.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Physically striking a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
#* Sexual advances, or sexual acts engaged with a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
# '''Embezzlement of funds intended for charitable donation.''' While the 501st's official policy is that all funds intended for charity must be submitted by the donor directly to the charity of choice, it has been concluded that in some rare occasions, money will be given directly to a representative of the 501st. Embezzlement is defined as: <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity within three business weeks following the event. <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity. <br />
#* Spending funds intended for charitable donations on personal or group expenses, including but not limited to patches, coins, cards, and personal expenses including and not limited to any expense which can be viewed as a &quot;living expense.&quot;<br />
# '''Undisclosed criminal history''', which involve the following types of criminal history:<br />
#* Felony drug offenses <br />
#* Sex offender registry entry <br />
#* Felony embezzlement. <br />
#* Felony violent crimes <br />
<br />
<br />
If a member is found guilty of any of the above listed items of the Code of Conduct, he or she has the option to submit an appeal to the Legion Captain of the Guard within one week after notification of the termination of membership. <br />
<br />
''' ''Undisclosed Criminal History'' ''' will result in a default discharge upon presentation of incontrovertible proof of criminal history. Discharging the member for an undisclosed criminal history falls exclusively to the Legion Captain of the Guard with the mutual consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer. An e-mail must be sent to the Garrison Commanding Officer if this clause applies to a member of his or her Garrison. Discharge of said member must occur within a reasonable time frame upon discovery and confirmation.<br />
<br />
====Hearings for Major Offenses ====<br />
If a hearing is required for a major offense, a poll will be set up in the hearing forum by the Legion Captain of the Guard. The poll for this type of hearing will include the following options: <br />
<br />
# Discharge <br />
# Exonerate <br />
<br />
A simple-majority of those voting will be needed to obtain a decision in a Major Offense hearing. If exoneration is chosen by those voting in the hearing poll, the member will automatically be placed on 1 to 2 year probation at the discretion of the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Lesser Offenses===<br />
<br />
====Conduct Unbecoming a Trooper====<br />
<br />
Legion members are expected to treat each other, our event sponsors, the public, and LucasFilm, Ltd. with common sense and respect. Examples of inappropriate behavior that may result in disciplinary action include, but are not limited to, the following: <br />
<br />
# Harassment of fellow members. <br />
# Merchandise and branding infractions <br />
# Abuse or violation of message board privileges <br />
# Inappropriate behavior during trooping or unit events <br />
# Inappropriate contact with an event host, sponsor, or LFL <br />
# Misrepresentation of a unit or the Legion<br />
<br />
<br />
===Dispute Resolution ===<br />
<br />
In an organization as large as ours, disputes and disagreements are bound to occur. With this in mind, the Legion requires that any disputes of a minor or semi-major degree must be resolved. Determination of the mechanism for dispute resolution resides with the Legion Captain of the Guard, the Legion Commanding Officer and the Garrison Commanding Officer. <br />
The policy in reference to Alternative Dispute Resolution is contained below. <br />
<br />
====Alternative Dispute Resolution====<br />
Alternative dispute resolution is used when a disagreement arises between two or more members that could escalate into a Charter violation. The Captain of the Guard, Commanding Officer, or Command Staff may recommend moderated mediation. All parties involved must agree to actively participate in good faith in the process in order for Alternative Dispute Resolution to be effective.<br />
<br />
The procedure for Alternative Dispute Resolution is as follows:<br />
<br />
# The Member(s) or Garrison Commanding Officer must submit a request for a hearing room in writing to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard and/or either or both Legion Commanding Officer or Legion Executive Officer will monitor and moderate all discussions occurring in a private hearing room on the Legion Forum. <br />
# Members are free to discuss their issues without prejudice. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer, or Legion Executive Officer will provide methods to enable resolution.<br />
# Resolution may be:<br />
#* mutual agreement of the parties involved<br />
#* an arbitrated settlement proposed by the COG, LCO, LXO and accepted by the Members involved in the dispute.<br />
# Failing Alternative Dispute Resolution, the command staff or the affected member may request a disciplinary hearing only after all other avenues have been exhausted. <br />
<br />
====Disciplinary Hearing Procedure====<br />
<br />
# A written complaint is filed with the Garrison command, and the Legion Captain of the Guard. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard will investigate and assess the merits of the charges.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, upon satisfactory determination of merit, will open a hearing forum on the Main Legion Forums.<br />
# At a time determined by the Captain of the Guard, the discussion phase of the hearing will be closed.<br />
# The COG will then open the hearing poll.<br />
<br />
During the course of any Legion hearing except under circumstances which have been previously outlined in the Legion Code of Conduct, a poll will be conducted at the conclusion of the proceedings. The poll will be presented to the complainants, and must contain the following options <br />
<br />
For first offenses:<br />
# Exonerate <br />
# Six month probation <br />
# One year probation <br />
# 6 Month suspension <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
<br />
For second offenses <br />
# Exonerate <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
# Discharge <br />
<br />
Requirements:<br />
# All disciplinary actions taken by the Garrison Commanding Officer must have the approval of and notification provided to the Legion Captain of the Guard<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer must be made aware of any appeal in writing.<br />
# All hearings and alternative dispute resolution meetings must take place on the Legion Forums in a private area sectioned off for such purposes.<br />
# Any member may appeal disciplinary actions at the local level to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Administrative Leave===<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete.<br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of &quot;Retired Status&quot; and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status.<br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member's status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
==Section 2: Membership==<br />
<br />
===Active Members===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements:<br />
# Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).<br />
# Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database<br />
# Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML.<br />
# Participates in at least one Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion.<br />
# Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements.<br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible.<br />
<br />
A member may retain active status, even if they do not meet all of the requirements listed above at the discretion of their unit Commanding Officer or Legion Command.<br />
<br />
An Active Member is eligible to:<br />
# Vote in polls of the Active Membership.<br />
# Vote in local and legion elections.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
<br />
===Reserve Members===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets &lt;del&gt;the following requirements:&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison).&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. &lt;/del&gt;<br />
&lt;span style=&quot;color: green&quot;&gt;all of the requirements of an Active Member, except for the annual costumed participation in a 501st Legion event, as defined above. A Reserve Member may still participate in a supporting role for the Garrison or Legion once per census year as defined above. Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their Garrison Commanding Officer as qualifying activities or contributions.&lt;/span&gt;<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums.<br />
# Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas. <br />
# Have access to Detachment forums.<br />
# Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator.<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Retain full access on the Legion Forums.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
===Retired Members===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following):<br />
# Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume.<br />
# Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than one year, and has not actively contributed to the Legion via non-costumed activity during that time.<br />
# Leaves the Legion voluntarily.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is eligible to:<br />
# Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator.<br />
# Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop.<br />
# Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members.<br />
<br />
A Retired Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Buy or create 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Coordinate official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
# Access the main Legion forum.<br />
# Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
# Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section.<br />
<br />
===Suspended Members===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
<br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing.<br />
<br />
===Discharged Members===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Purchase or create official 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com.<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events and functions.<br />
# Have access to the 501st Legion or Legion Unit forums. <br />
# Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile.<br />
<br />
===In Memoriam===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing who has passed away.<br />
<br />
An In Memoriam member will have:<br />
# Their identification number preserved and not reissued.<br />
# Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page.<br />
<br />
===Honorary Members===<br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe.<br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment.<br />
An Honorary Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion===<br />
Friends of the Legion are individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for LucasFilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom. Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to:<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
# Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
# Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Section 3: Elections==<br />
<br />
==Section 4: Merchandise &amp; Branding==</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocolOperationsProtocol2011-09-23T14:39:07Z<p>Crimson: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
The Operations Protocol is a supplemental set of rules, guidelines, and instructions for day-to-day operations of the 501st Legion. The Operations Protocol acts as the bylaws of the organization, as referenced in the [[LegionCharter|Legion Charter]].<br />
<br />
==Section 1: Code of Conduct==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that its costumes represent characters from the Star Wars films and as such, costume-wearers carry the responsibility of portraying these characters professionally and tastefully while in public. For these reasons, all members are prohibited from acting in a manner disrespectful towards the image they are portraying, towards fellow club members, or towards the public at large while in costume at any event where the 501st Legion or its sub-units and members are participants.<br />
<br />
Membership in the 501st Legion is a privilege granted by this private club, not a social or legal right. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion maintains that part of the fun of trooping is to be able to do so in reasonable safety. It is the intention of the Legion to provide an outline of behavior wherein it has a Code of conduct for the safety and security of its members. Violations of the code of conduct listed below as items 1 through 5 as determined by a hearing or other incontrovertible evidence will result in immediate termination of membership. <br />
<br />
The policy encompasses those behaviors thought by society to be violent, illegal, or anti-social in nature. It is not the intent of the Legion to abridge the standard rights or practices of the individual member, but rather to protect all members from the defined behavior of any member engaging in such behavior. In any event, common sense must prevail. <br />
<br />
There are, however, other behaviors that do not require such extreme actions. It is the intent of the Legion to reduce the number of cases requiring removal where other less extreme actions can and will suffice. <br />
<br />
===Major Offenses===<br />
# '''Violent or threatening acts against a member of the 501st Legion.''' These acts are defined as:<br />
#* Physically striking another member with the intent to cause bodily harm with or without cause, unless defending one’s self from a violent attack. <br />
#* Threatening harm against the person or property of an individual via phone/ voice mail, forum, electronic social media or in writing. (Threats must be direct and unmistakable to the average person) <br />
#* Cease and Desist orders or other legal action or documents issued by a member’s attorney due to justified and properly documented disciplinary action by the GCO or LCOG. <br />
# '''Trooping under the influence of an illegal substance.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Arriving to a troop under the influence of a Illegal substance. <br />
#* Use, distribution, or administration of an illegal substance during a 501st event. <br />
# '''Violent or sexual acts against children.''' These acts are defined as: <br />
#* Physically striking a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
#* Sexual advances, or sexual acts engaged with a member of the public under the age of consent. <br />
# '''Embezzlement of funds intended for charitable donation.''' While the 501st's official policy is that all funds intended for charity must be submitted by the donor directly to the charity of choice, it has been concluded that in some rare occasions, money will be given directly to a representative of the 501st. Embezzlement is defined as: <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity within three business weeks following the event. <br />
#* Failing to ensure that funds are submitted to the receiving charity. <br />
#* Spending funds intended for charitable donations on personal or group expenses, including but not limited to patches, coins, cards, and personal expenses including and not limited to any expense which can be viewed as a &quot;living expense.&quot;<br />
# '''Undisclosed criminal history''', which involve the following types of criminal history:<br />
#* Felony drug offenses <br />
#* Sex offender registry entry <br />
#* Felony embezzlement. <br />
#* Felony violent crimes <br />
<br />
<br />
If a member is found guilty of any of the above listed items of the Code of Conduct, he or she has the option to submit an appeal to the Legion Captain of the Guard within one week after notification of the termination of membership. <br />
<br />
''' ''Undisclosed Criminal History'' ''' will result in a default discharge upon presentation of incontrovertible proof of criminal history. Discharging the member for an undisclosed criminal history falls exclusively to the Legion Captain of the Guard with the mutual consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer. An e-mail must be sent to the Garrison Commanding Officer if this clause applies to a member of his or her Garrison. Discharge of said member must occur within a reasonable time frame upon discovery and confirmation.<br />
<br />
====Hearings for Major Offenses ====<br />
If a hearing is required for a major offense, a poll will be set up in the hearing forum by the Legion Captain of the Guard. The poll for this type of hearing will include the following options: <br />
<br />
# Discharge <br />
# Exonerate <br />
<br />
A simple-majority of those voting will be needed to obtain a decision in a Major Offense hearing. If exoneration is chosen by those voting in the hearing poll, the member will automatically be placed on 1 to 2 year probation at the discretion of the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Lesser Offenses===<br />
<br />
====Conduct Unbecoming a Trooper====<br />
<br />
Legion members are expected to treat each other, our event sponsors, the public, and LucasFilm, Ltd. with common sense and respect. Examples of inappropriate behavior that may result in disciplinary action include, but are not limited to, the following: <br />
<br />
# Harassment of fellow members. <br />
# Merchandise and branding infractions <br />
# Abuse or violation of message board privileges <br />
# Inappropriate behavior during trooping or unit events <br />
# Inappropriate contact with an event host, sponsor, or LFL <br />
# Misrepresentation of a unit or the Legion<br />
<br />
<br />
===Dispute Resolution ===<br />
<br />
In an organization as large as ours, disputes and disagreements are bound to occur. With this in mind, the Legion requires that any disputes of a minor or semi-major degree must be resolved. Determination of the mechanism for dispute resolution resides with the Legion Captain of the Guard, the Legion Commanding Officer and the Garrison Commanding Officer. <br />
The policy in reference to Alternative Dispute Resolution is contained below. <br />
<br />
====Alternative Dispute Resolution====<br />
Alternative dispute resolution is used when a disagreement arises between two or more members that could escalate into a Charter violation. The Captain of the Guard, Commanding Officer, or Command Staff may recommend moderated mediation. All parties involved must agree to actively participate in good faith in the process in order for Alternative Dispute Resolution to be effective.<br />
<br />
The procedure for Alternative Dispute Resolution is as follows:<br />
<br />
# The Member(s) or Garrison Commanding Officer must submit a request for a hearing room in writing to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard and/or either or both Legion Commanding Officer or Legion Executive Officer will monitor and moderate all discussions occurring in a private hearing room on the Legion Forum. <br />
# Members are free to discuss their issues without prejudice. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer, or Legion Executive Officer will provide methods to enable resolution.<br />
# Resolution may be:<br />
#* mutual agreement of the parties involved<br />
#* an arbitrated settlement proposed by the COG, LCO, LXO and accepted by the Members involved in the dispute.<br />
# Failing Alternative Dispute Resolution, the command staff or the affected member may request a disciplinary hearing only after all other avenues have been exhausted. <br />
<br />
====Disciplinary Hearing Procedure====<br />
<br />
# A written complaint is filed with the Garrison command, and the Legion Captain of the Guard. <br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard will investigate and assess the merits of the charges.<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, upon satisfactory determination of merit, will open a hearing forum on the Main Legion Forums.<br />
# At a time determined by the Captain of the Guard, the discussion phase of the hearing will be closed.<br />
# The COG will then open the hearing poll.<br />
<br />
During the course of any Legion hearing except under circumstances which have been previously outlined in the Legion Code of Conduct, a poll will be conducted at the conclusion of the proceedings. The poll will be presented to the complainants, and must contain the following options <br />
<br />
For first offenses:<br />
# Exonerate <br />
# Six month probation <br />
# One year probation <br />
# 6 Month suspension <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
<br />
For second offenses <br />
# Exonerate <br />
# 1 Year suspension <br />
# 2 year suspension <br />
# Discharge <br />
<br />
Requirements:<br />
# All disciplinary actions taken by the Garrison Commanding Officer must have the approval of and notification provided to the Legion Captain of the Guard<br />
# The Legion Captain of the Guard, Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Executive Officer must be made aware of any appeal in writing.<br />
# All hearings and alternative dispute resolution meetings must take place on the Legion Forums in a private area sectioned off for such purposes.<br />
# Any member may appeal disciplinary actions at the local level to the Legion Captain of the Guard.<br />
<br />
===Administrative Leave===<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete.<br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of &quot;Retired Status&quot; and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status.<br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member's status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
==Section 2: Membership==<br />
<br />
===Active Members===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements:<br />
# Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).<br />
# Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database<br />
# Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
# Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML.<br />
# Participates in at least one Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion.<br />
# Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements.<br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible.<br />
<br />
A member may retain active status, even if they do not meet all of the requirements listed above at the discretion of their unit Commanding Officer or Legion Command.<br />
<br />
An Active Member is eligible to:<br />
# Vote in polls of the Active Membership.<br />
# Vote in local and legion elections.<br />
# Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
# Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader.<br />
# Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
# Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section.<br />
# Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
# Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
<br />
===Reserve Members===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets &lt;del&gt;the following requirements:&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc).&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison).&lt;/del&gt;<br />
#&lt;del&gt; Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. &lt;/del&gt;<br />
&lt;span style=&quot;color: green&quot;&gt;all of the requirements of an Active Member, except for the annual costumed participation in a 501st Legion event, as defined above. A Reserve Member may still participate in a supporting role for the Garrison or Legion once per census year as defined above. Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their Garrison Commanding Officer as qualifying activities or contributions.&lt;/span&gt;<br />
<br />
A Reserve Member is eligible to:<br />
1. Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums.<br />
2. Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas. <br />
3. Have access to Detachment forums.<br />
4. Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator.<br />
A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
1. Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
2. Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
3. Buy or create 501st or Unit merchandise.<br />
4. Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
5. Retain full access on the Legion Forums.<br />
6. Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
===Retired Members===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following):<br />
1. Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume.<br />
2. Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October.<br />
3. Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than one year, and has not actively contributed to the Legion via non-costumed activity during that time.<br />
4. Leaves the Legion voluntarily.<br />
A Retired Member is eligible to:<br />
1. Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator.<br />
2. Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop.<br />
3. Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members.<br />
A Retired Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
1. Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
2. Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
3. Buy or create 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
4. Coordinate official 501st events.<br />
5. Participate in limited access events or requests.<br />
6. Access main legion forums.<br />
7. Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
8. Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section.<br />
Suspended Membership Definition:<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
<br />
<br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing.<br />
Discharged Membership Definition:<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action.<br />
A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
1. Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election.<br />
2. Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership).<br />
3. Purchase or create official 501st Legion or Unit merchandise.<br />
4. Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com.<br />
5. Coordinate/host official 501st events.<br />
6. Participate in official 501st events and functions.<br />
7. Have access to the 501st Legion or Legion Unit forums. <br />
8. Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile.<br />
In Memoriam Membership Definition:<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away.<br />
An In Memoriam member will have:<br />
1. Their identification number preserved and not reissued.<br />
2. Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page.<br />
Honorary Member Definition:<br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe.<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment.<br />
An Honorary Member is eligible to:<br />
1. Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
2. Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
3. Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
4. Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
1. Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
2. Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
3. Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
Friend of the Legion Member Definition:<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion.<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment.<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to:<br />
1. Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section.<br />
2. Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc).<br />
3. Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards.<br />
4. Purchase official 501st / member-only merchandise.<br />
A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to:<br />
1. Vote in unit or legion polls or elections.<br />
2. Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position.<br />
3. Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Section 3: Elections==<br />
<br />
==Section 4: Merchandise &amp; Branding==</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocolOperationsProtocol2011-09-23T13:56:58Z<p>Crimson: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
The Operations Protocol is a supplemental set of rules, guidelines, and instructions for day-to-day operations of the 501st Legion. The Operations Protocol acts as the bylaws of the organization, as referenced in the [Legion Charter].</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocolOperationsProtocol2011-09-23T13:55:47Z<p>Crimson: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocolOperationsProtocol2011-09-23T13:55:28Z<p>Crimson: /* Operations Protocol */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Operations Protocol=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocolOperationsProtocol2011-09-23T13:54:45Z<p>Crimson: Created page with &quot;==Operations Protocol==&quot;</p>
<hr />
<div>==Operations Protocol==</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-20T13:35:42Z<p>Crimson: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is 'Star Wars', and, when in costume or otherwise act on behalf of the Legion, represent the 'Star Wars' brand and will do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and construction as required by the Legion, and wear it in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique Operating Number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision. <br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography. <br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The LCOG interprets and enforces club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot; <br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing, distributing, or possessing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to corrective action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the LMBO, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
''' ''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}/{{REVISIONDAY2}}/{{REVISIONYEAR}} by {{REVISIONUSER}}'' '''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-20T13:32:48Z<p>Crimson: /* Article VIII: Policies and Amendments */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is 'Star Wars', and, when in costume or otherwise act on behalf of the Legion, represent the 'Star Wars' brand and will do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and construction as required by the Legion, and wear it in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique Operating Number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision. <br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography. <br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The LCOG interprets and enforces club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot; <br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the August of the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing, distributing, or possessing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to corrective action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the LMBO, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-20T13:31:44Z<p>Crimson: /* Article VIII: Policies and Amendments */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is 'Star Wars', and, when in costume or otherwise act on behalf of the Legion, represent the 'Star Wars' brand and will do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and construction as required by the Legion, and wear it in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique Operating Number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision. <br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography. <br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The LCOG interprets and enforces club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot; <br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is due no later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be reserved for the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing, distributing, or possessing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to corrective action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the LMBO, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-20T13:28:41Z<p>Crimson: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is 'Star Wars', and, when in costume or otherwise act on behalf of the Legion, represent the 'Star Wars' brand and will do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and construction as required by the Legion, and wear it in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique Operating Number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision. <br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography. <br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The LCOG interprets and enforces club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot; <br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the members of each respective unit.<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is dueno later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be renewed in the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing, distributing, or possessing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to corrective action by the Legion.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the LMBO, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-09-20T13:27:54Z<p>Crimson: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is 'Star Wars', and, when in costume or otherwise act on behalf of the Legion, represent the 'Star Wars' brand and will do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and construction as required by the Legion, and wear it in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique Operating Number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision. <br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography. <br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The LCOG interprets and enforces club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot; <br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
# The offices of LCO, Garrison and Outpost COs, Squad Leaders, and Detachment Leaders are all elected positions in the Legion. All other positions are appointed by their respective supervising official.<br />
<br />
# Active members in good standing are eligible to run for elected office and vote in elections within their respective jurisdictions.<br />
<br />
# All elected offices serve one-year terms.<br />
<br />
# The office of LCO is elected by popular vote of the members of the Legion. The offices of Garrison and Outpost CO, Squad Leader, and Detachment Leader are elected by popular vote of the members of each respective unit.<br />
<br />
# Annual elections are mandatory for every unit, unless an incumbent official stands unchallenged, in which case an election may be waived.<br />
<br />
# In the event a unit commander or leader is unable to continue in their office, that unit must hold an immediate election for a replacement. Units that maintain an executive officer will be under the authority of that executive officer until the completion of the emergency election. If both the commanding officer and the executive officer are unable to serve, the Legion COG will temporarily assume nominal leadership until the completion of the emergency election. If a Squad Leader is unable to continue in their office, the parent Garrison's CO will assume administrative responsibility until the Squad's emergency election is complete. Inability to serve may be determined by either voluntary resignation of the office, or a period of 30 days of unresponsiveness in office after all reasonable means of communication are exhausted.<br />
<br />
# Any unit of the Legion (including the Legion itself) may redress egregious problems in leadership by requesting a recall election of the unit's leader. Requests for recall elections must be submitted to Legion Command for consultation, review, and approval before proceeding. Recall elections are not to be used to express dissatisfaction with the results of a properly conducted and legitimate election process (concerns with improperly conducted elections should be forwarded to the Legion COG, and are outside the scope of this provision).<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
# A committee will be formed consisting of various members of the Legion to oversee and manage amendments to the Charter. This committee is called the Charter Review Committee (CRC) and is under the direct supervision of Legion Command.<br />
<br />
# Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by any active Legion member to the CRC directly or via their Legion Council representative at any time.<br />
<br />
# The CRC will review the proposal and if accepted, will craft the language of the proposal. The CRC may reject proposals deemed inappropriate or contradictory to the spirit of the Legion at its discretion.<br />
<br />
# Draft proposals will be submitted to the Legion Council for review. During review, the proposal may be further revised by the CRC with suggestions from the Legion Council. Legion Council members are authorized to share works in progress with their respective unit members for additional input. Completion of revisions is dueno later than 7 days following submission of the draft.<br />
<br />
# Upon reaching a satisfactory state of completion of the proposal signified by passing a two-thirds super-majority vote by participating Legion Council members, the CRC will present the completed proposal to the Legion members for ratification.<br />
<br />
# Proposals require a two-thirds majority of voting members to pass.<br />
<br />
# If passed, the proposal becomes an Amendment and is effective immediately upon completion of the vote.<br />
<br />
# Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. The CRC may also work on proposals at any time throughout the year. Draft Amendments must be submitted by the CRC to Legion Council no earlier than August 1 and no later than August 17 of any given year, to permit conclusion of membership ratification by August 31. Any proposals, drafts, or revisions falling outside of this window will be renewed in the following year.<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property.<br />
<br />
#. Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing, distributing, or possessing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to corrective action by the Legion.<br />
<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the LMBO, and approval must be granted by the LMBO prior to production.<br />
<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRiderCharityEventRider2011-07-27T16:29:16Z<p>Crimson: /* 501st Legion Performance and Hospitality Rider Charity Events */</p>
<hr />
<div>==501st Legion Performance and Hospitality Rider Charity Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Charity_Rider.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion (hereafter referred to as “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”) is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through costuming; specifically the costumes and characters of the Stormtrooper and other Imperial forces, as well as non-affiliated villains and denizens. The Legion is an all-volunteer organization formed for the express purpose of bringing together costume enthusiasts under a collective identity within which to operate. The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
The Legion recognizes it holds no claim over the costumes and characters it portrays, and that their use is a privilege extended by ''Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)''. The members of the Legion acknowledge and accept that while in costume, we represent the Star Wars brand and will do so professionally and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
The Event Sponsor (hereafter referred to as “the Sponsor”) is the event coordinator, venue, or other entity, organization, company, or individual requesting an appearance by members of the Legion.<br />
<br />
The Sponsor understands and acknowledges that the Legion is an entirely all-volunteer organization and as such makes no guarantee of their ability to provide specific character types or character quantities.<br />
<br />
Depending on various conditions such as health or environment, 20 to 30 minutes is the maximum recommended time a trooper or any other helmeted or masked character should go without a break. While it is possible for a helmeted or masked character to go longer than this period of time, provisions should be made in scheduling to allow characters to take breaks during an appearance longer than 30 minutes. Breaks normally consist of the masked character being able to go somewhere out of sight in order to remove their helmet/mask, drink water or take a quick breather. Open-faced costumes such as Imperial Officers, Death Star Troopers and technicians may be available for longer periods. For longer events, a 2 hour shift (with breaks interspersed every 30 minutes) is the maximum a fully enclosed character can be expected to handle without a substantial break. <br />
<br />
===Charity Event Definition===<br />
A charity event is any event sponsored by a reputable charity for the purposes of raising awareness or fundraising. Examples include Toys-For-Tots store appearances in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps, blood drives, charity fairs, walks and runs, school fairs, and scouting events. <br />
<br />
'''It should be noted that the Legion does not participate in political or protest events.'''<br />
<br />
Corporate Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRider<br />
<br />
Private Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation===<br />
The Legion and its members do not accept appearance fees for charity-sponsored events.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses:===<br />
The Sponsor may be asked to compensate participating members for travel and expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, and lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging, and meals directly if they so choose.<br />
<br />
{|border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note: Traveling with armor creates many challenges. Additional baggage fees or insured express shipping may be required to deliver costumes to and from the event location if the member is traveling by air.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
501st Legion members are volunteers with real-life responsibilities including jobs and families. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members.<br />
The limitations of our costumes require the following:<br />
<br />
*A minimum of two weeks lead time for planning. 30 days is preferred.<br />
<br />
*Both the Sponsor and the local Garrison will provide a specific contact person for relating all information back and forth.<br />
<br />
*Frequent breaks in a climate-controlled (if possible) area every 30 minutes to 2 hours (depending on the character(s) present).<br />
<br />
*Access to water.<br />
<br />
*Access to restrooms.<br />
<br />
*Access to a changing area that is secure or lockable, clean, well-lit, private, furnished with tables and/or chairs/stools. (e.g. a break room or conference room). A bathroom or storage closet is not acceptable.<br />
<br />
*Free or compensated parking that is close to the venue (less than 5 minutes walking distance).<br />
<br />
*A safe environment that is well-maintained and well-lit for our members to be featured or to interact with the public.<br />
<br />
*Allowances for handlers from within our own group to be present for the safety of our members.<br />
<br />
*Security is to be handled by the Sponsor, not the Legion members.<br />
<br />
*We are unable to perform complicated skits, battles, or extensive choreography. Therefore, appearances should be planned with this restriction in mind.<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel===<br />
Many of the costumes owned by the Legion members have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such, it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or handlers to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on attaining membership in the Legion. <br />
<br />
Handlers may be costumed characters without helmets such as Imperial Officers or Imperial Crew. Handlers may also be dressed casually, or in a Legion or Garrison shirt. Please advise the Legion's contact person assigned to your event of the level of formality of your event so that Legion handlers may dress appropriately. <br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters, the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event including patron interaction.<br />
<br />
===Venue Relations:===<br />
The Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership, and security. <br />
<br />
{| border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common-use, and civil properties (e.g. shopping malls), the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding masks or replica weapons must be clarified and cleared by the sponsor not less than one week prior to the event.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The Sponsor agrees to allow full access to the performance venue and pre-performance facilities to the Legion members acting as costumed characters or handlers a minimum of one hour prior to the event. This requirement may be adjusted depending on the scope and scale of the event and as agreed upon by the Sponsor and the local Legion event coordinator.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs:===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the typical of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with the character being portrayed. For example, &quot;TK-1234 Stormtrooper&quot; or &quot;Darth Vader – SL-0000.&quot; The Legion does not require the purchase of an item or a donation to sign an autograph. The Sponsor agrees not to require purchases or donations in order to receive an autograph or take a photograph with a costumed character.<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
*A secure or lockable changing facility<br />
*Access to restroom facilities<br />
*Bottled water<br />
<br />
===Requested amenities:===<br />
*Clear, clean tables<br />
*Chairs or stools <br />
*Meals and snacks if the event is scheduled to run more than four hours.<br />
<br />
In general, a good rule of thumb would be one 2’ x 6’ or 2’ x 8’ table with chairs for every 3 to 4 characters. Due to restricted mobility, most armored characters cannot sit down in their costumes. High stools such as bar stools are excellent seats for Stormtroopers if they are available.<br />
<br />
===Nice Touches:===<br />
*Event tickets or passes (musical, theatrical, film or exhibit events)<br />
*Snacks or meals if the event is scheduled for more than two hours.<br />
*Access to non-public restroom facilities<br />
<br />
''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRiderPrivateEventRider2011-07-27T16:29:05Z<p>Crimson: /* 501st Legion Performance and Hospitality Rider Private Events */</p>
<hr />
<div>==501st Legion Performance and Hospitality Rider Private Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Private_Rider.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion (hereafter referred to as “the Legion”) an all-volunteer fan-based organization dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through costuming — most notably the costumes and characters of the Stormtroopers, Clone Troopers and other villains from the Star Wars saga. The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the construction and exposure of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community. <br />
<br />
The Legion recognizes it holds no claim over the costumes and characters it portrays, and that their use is a privilege extended by ''Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)''. Legion Members acknowledge and accept that while in costume, we represent the Star Wars brand and will do so professionally and responsibly at all times. <br />
<br />
The Event Sponsor (hereafter referred to as “the Sponsor”) is the individual or group requesting an appearance by members of the Legion. <br />
<br />
The Sponsor understands and acknowledges that the Legion is an all-volunteer organization, and as such makes no guarantee of the Legion’s ability to provide specific character types or quantities. <br />
<br />
===Private Event Definition===<br />
<br />
A private event is any event requested for a nonpublic or non-promotional function. Private events include (but are not limited to): birthday parties, weddings, award ceremonies, retirement parties, and hospital visits.<br />
<br />
'''It should be noted that the Legion does not participate in events which might be considered political or religious in nature.'''<br />
<br />
Corporate Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRider<br />
<br />
Charity Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation=== <br />
As a rule, the Legion and its members do not charge a fee for private appearances. However, a donation in the name of the Legion to a reputable charity commensurate with the number of characters requested and the event duration is greatly appreciated. If the Sponsor does not have a charity of choice, the Legion can suggest one. For a partial list of charities the Legion has worked with in the past please view our [http://501st.com/charity.php charity list]. Please discuss preferred charities with your local Garrison's point of contact person.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses: ===<br />
The Sponsor may be asked to compensate participating members for travel and expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, and lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging, and meals directly if they so choose. Traveling with elaborate costumes creates many challenges. Additional baggage fees or insured express shipping may be required to deliver costumes to and from the event location if the member is traveling by air.<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
<br />
The Sponsor shall provide a local contact person to the local Legion Garrison Command Staff or Garrison Event Coordinator not less than two weeks prior to the event. Large venue events and events requesting more than 12 Legion members may require more lead time.<br />
<br />
The Sponsor shall provide free parking and secure changing facilities for Legion members including costumed characters and handlers.<br />
<br />
===Duration of Appearances ===<br />
<br />
While helmeted or masked Legion members may be able to provide an appearance of more than 30 continuous minutes, the decision to do so lies solely at the individual Legion member's discretion and provisions should be made in scheduling to accommodate the physical limitations of some Legion costumes. Appearances longer than 30 continuous minutes should allow for breaks in locations permitting the helmeted or masked Legion member to remove costume parts in privacy.<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel ===<br />
Many of the costumes owned by the Legion members have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such, it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or handlers to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on attaining membership in the Legion.<br />
<br />
Handlers may be costumed characters without helmets such as Imperial Officers or Imperial Crew. Handlers may also be dressed casually, or in a Legion or Garrison shirt. Please advise the Legion's contact person assigned to your event of the level of formality of your event so that Legion handlers may dress appropriately.<br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters, the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event including patron interaction. <br />
<br />
===Venue Relations: ===<br />
If the event request is for a location other than a private home, the Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership and security. <br />
<br />
{|border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common use and civil properties, i.e. malls and restaurants, the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying of prop replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding prop replica weapons must be clarified and cleared by the Sponsor not less than one week prior to the event. <br />
|}<br />
<br />
Please consider the following as examples:<br />
<br />
* Hospital Visits – Hospital rooms are small. Please arrange hospital visits to common areas often available in hospitals such as day rooms or gardens. <br />
<br />
*Private Homes – Consider the area available. Darth Vader and a few Stormtroopers can completely occupy the average living room.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs: ===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the typical of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with the character being portrayed. For example, &quot;TK-1234 Stormtrooper&quot; or &quot;Darth Vader – SL-0000.&quot;<br />
<br />
Special note for children's events: the local Garrison may provide special treats for the children at the event such as &quot;Honorary Stormtrooper Certificates,&quot; activity books, temporary tattoos, autographed photos, stickers and other small Star Wars or Legion related material. Please feel free to discuss these items with your point of contact.<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
* A secure or lockable changing facility<br />
* Access to restroom facilities<br />
* Bottled water <br />
<br />
===Exceptions: ===<br />
If the Sponsor is unable to meet the minimum requirements as outlined in this document, the participating Legion members, at their own expense, may waive any of the above requirements or stipulations when working with the Sponsor, local venue management and security.<br />
<br />
''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRiderCorporateEventRider2011-07-27T16:28:50Z<p>Crimson: /* Nice Touches: */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Performance and Hospitality Rider Corporate and Promotional Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Corp_Rider.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion is an all-volunteer costume organization focused on professional costuming, spreading the love of Star Wars to fans around the globe, and to charity work on local, national, and world-wide levels. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion cannot make a guarantee of our ability to provide specific characters, or numbers of personnel for any given event. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members make use of Lucasfilm, Ltd. copyrights and trademarks with permission from Lucasfilm, Ltd. and hold no ownership of these intellectual properties and cannot grant any rights to the same properties. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members will comport themselves with the highest standard of professional behavior.<br />
<br />
The Event Sponsor (hereafter referred to as &quot;the Sponsor&quot;) is the event coordinator, venue, or other entity, organization, company, or individual requesting an appearance by members of the Legion.<br />
<br />
The majority of the Legion membership is not SAG or Equity members or Extras. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members. Legion members are volunteer performers and should not be asked to stage extensive scenes or other heavily choreographed action.<br />
<br />
===Corporate and Promotional Event Definition===<br />
A corporate or promotional event is any event sponsored by a corporate, advertising, promotional or marketing firm for the purpose of promoting a product, sale, or media release. <br />
<br />
'''The Legion does not participate in political or protest events.'''<br />
<br />
Typically, the product or event must have some relationship to the '''Star Wars''' franchise and may require permission and sanction by Lucasfilm, Ltd. If the Legion has any question of the validity of the product or event, the Legion reserves the right to contact Lucasfilm, Ltd. regarding the event.<br />
<br />
Legion members will be happy to sign nondisclosure agreements upon request. Please provide a copy of the agreement to the Legion and the local event coordinator for review '''a minimum of one week prior to the event'''.<br />
<br />
Charity Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRider<br />
<br />
Private Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation===<br />
*Corporate character requests shall be reimbursed at a reasonable work-time-lost day rate commensurate with local character appearance fees charged by other character providers within the same locale and not more than standard extras fees for SAG or AFTRA. This is requested per-character. <br />
<br />
*A donation to a charity made in the name of the Legion may be requested in lieu of or in addition to individual character payment, and is in line with our mission to work for charity in conjunction with our activities. <br />
<br />
*For a list of charities the Legion has worked with in the past, please see refer to our [http://501st.com/charity.php charity list]. Please discuss preferred charities with your local Garrison point of contact.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses:===<br />
The Sponsor may be asked to compensate participating members for travel and expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, and lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging, and meals directly if they so choose. Traveling with elaborate costumes creates many challenges. Additional baggage fees or insured express shipping may be required to deliver costumes to and from the event location if the member is traveling by air.<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
<br />
501st Legion members are volunteers with real-life responsibilities including jobs and families. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members.<br />
The limitations of our costumes require the following:<br />
<br />
*A minimum of two weeks lead time for planning. 30 days is preferred.<br />
<br />
*Both the Sponsor and the local Garrison will provide a specific contact person for relating all information back and forth.<br />
<br />
*Frequent breaks in a climate-controlled (if possible) area every 30 minutes to 2 hours (depending on the character(s) present).<br />
<br />
*Access to water.<br />
<br />
*Access to restrooms.<br />
<br />
*Access to a changing area that is secure or lockable, clean, well-lit, private, furnished with tables and/or chairs/stools. (e.g. a break room or conference room). A bathroom or storage closet is not acceptable.<br />
<br />
*Free or compensated parking that is close to the venue (less than 5 minutes walking distance).<br />
<br />
*A safe environment that is well-maintained and well-lit for our members to be featured or to interact with the public.<br />
<br />
*Allowances for handlers from within our own group to be present for the safety of our members.<br />
<br />
*Security is to be handled by the Sponsor, not the Legion members.<br />
<br />
*We are unable to perform complicated skits, battles, or extensive choreography. Therefore, appearances should be planned with this restriction in mind.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel===<br />
Many of the costumes owned by the Legion members have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such, it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or handlers to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on attaining membership in the Legion. <br />
<br />
Handlers may be costumed characters without helmets such as Imperial Officers or Imperial Crew. Handlers may also be dressed casually, or in a Legion or Garrison shirt. Please advise the Legion's contact person assigned to your event of the level of formality of your event so that Legion handlers may dress appropriately. <br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters, the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event including patron interaction.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Venue Relations:===<br />
The Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership, and security. <br />
<br />
{| border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common-use, and civil properties (e.g. shopping malls), the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding masks or replica weapons must be clarified and cleared by the sponsor not less than one week prior to the event.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The Sponsor agrees to allow full access to the performance venue and pre-performance facilities to the Legion members acting as costumed characters or handlers a minimum of one hour prior to the event. This requirement may be adjusted depending on the scope and scale of the event and as agreed upon by the Sponsor and the local Legion event coordinator.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs:===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the typical of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with the character being portrayed. For example, &quot;TK-1234 Stormtrooper&quot; or &quot;Darth Vader – SL-0000.&quot; The Legion does not require the purchase of an item or a donation to sign an autograph. The Sponsor agrees not to require purchases or donations in order to receive an autograph or take a photograph with a costumed character.<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
*A secure or lockable changing facility<br />
*Access to restroom facilities<br />
*Bottled water<br />
*Meals and snacks if the event is scheduled to run more than four hours.<br />
*Donations commensurate with the number of troopers and duration of the event in the name of the 501st Legion to a reputable charity.<br />
<br />
===Requested Amenities:===<br />
*Clear, clean tables<br />
*Chairs or stools <br />
<br />
In general, a good rule of thumb would be one 2’ x 6’ or 2’ x 8’ table with chairs for every 3 to 4 characters. Due to restricted mobility, most armored characters cannot sit down in their costumes. High stools such as bar stools are excellent seats for Stormtroopers if they are available.<br />
<br />
===Nice Touches:===<br />
*Event tickets or passes (musical, theatrical, film or exhibit events)<br />
*Snacks or meals if the event is scheduled for more than two hours.<br />
*Access to non-public restroom facilities<br />
<br />
''Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}''</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRiderPrivateEventRider2011-07-27T16:28:27Z<p>Crimson: /* Minimum Requirements: */</p>
<hr />
<div>==501st Legion Performance and Hospitality Rider Private Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Private_Rider.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion (hereafter referred to as “the Legion”) an all-volunteer fan-based organization dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through costuming — most notably the costumes and characters of the Stormtroopers, Clone Troopers and other villains from the Star Wars saga. The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the construction and exposure of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community. <br />
<br />
The Legion recognizes it holds no claim over the costumes and characters it portrays, and that their use is a privilege extended by ''Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)''. Legion Members acknowledge and accept that while in costume, we represent the Star Wars brand and will do so professionally and responsibly at all times. <br />
<br />
The Event Sponsor (hereafter referred to as “the Sponsor”) is the individual or group requesting an appearance by members of the Legion. <br />
<br />
The Sponsor understands and acknowledges that the Legion is an all-volunteer organization, and as such makes no guarantee of the Legion’s ability to provide specific character types or quantities. <br />
<br />
===Private Event Definition===<br />
<br />
A private event is any event requested for a nonpublic or non-promotional function. Private events include (but are not limited to): birthday parties, weddings, award ceremonies, retirement parties, and hospital visits.<br />
<br />
'''It should be noted that the Legion does not participate in events which might be considered political or religious in nature.'''<br />
<br />
Corporate Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRider<br />
<br />
Charity Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation=== <br />
As a rule, the Legion and its members do not charge a fee for private appearances. However, a donation in the name of the Legion to a reputable charity commensurate with the number of characters requested and the event duration is greatly appreciated. If the Sponsor does not have a charity of choice, the Legion can suggest one. For a partial list of charities the Legion has worked with in the past please view our [http://501st.com/charity.php charity list]. Please discuss preferred charities with your local Garrison's point of contact person.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses: ===<br />
The Sponsor may be asked to compensate participating members for travel and expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, and lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging, and meals directly if they so choose. Traveling with elaborate costumes creates many challenges. Additional baggage fees or insured express shipping may be required to deliver costumes to and from the event location if the member is traveling by air.<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
<br />
The Sponsor shall provide a local contact person to the local Legion Garrison Command Staff or Garrison Event Coordinator not less than two weeks prior to the event. Large venue events and events requesting more than 12 Legion members may require more lead time.<br />
<br />
The Sponsor shall provide free parking and secure changing facilities for Legion members including costumed characters and handlers.<br />
<br />
===Duration of Appearances ===<br />
<br />
While helmeted or masked Legion members may be able to provide an appearance of more than 30 continuous minutes, the decision to do so lies solely at the individual Legion member's discretion and provisions should be made in scheduling to accommodate the physical limitations of some Legion costumes. Appearances longer than 30 continuous minutes should allow for breaks in locations permitting the helmeted or masked Legion member to remove costume parts in privacy.<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel ===<br />
Many of the costumes owned by the Legion members have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such, it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or handlers to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on attaining membership in the Legion.<br />
<br />
Handlers may be costumed characters without helmets such as Imperial Officers or Imperial Crew. Handlers may also be dressed casually, or in a Legion or Garrison shirt. Please advise the Legion's contact person assigned to your event of the level of formality of your event so that Legion handlers may dress appropriately.<br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters, the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event including patron interaction. <br />
<br />
===Venue Relations: ===<br />
If the event request is for a location other than a private home, the Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership and security. <br />
<br />
{|border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common use and civil properties, i.e. malls and restaurants, the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying of prop replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding prop replica weapons must be clarified and cleared by the Sponsor not less than one week prior to the event. <br />
|}<br />
<br />
Please consider the following as examples:<br />
<br />
* Hospital Visits – Hospital rooms are small. Please arrange hospital visits to common areas often available in hospitals such as day rooms or gardens. <br />
<br />
*Private Homes – Consider the area available. Darth Vader and a few Stormtroopers can completely occupy the average living room.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs: ===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the typical of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with the character being portrayed. For example, &quot;TK-1234 Stormtrooper&quot; or &quot;Darth Vader – SL-0000.&quot;<br />
<br />
Special note for children's events: the local Garrison may provide special treats for the children at the event such as &quot;Honorary Stormtrooper Certificates,&quot; activity books, temporary tattoos, autographed photos, stickers and other small Star Wars or Legion related material. Please feel free to discuss these items with your point of contact.<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
* A secure or lockable changing facility<br />
* Access to restroom facilities<br />
* Bottled water <br />
<br />
===Exceptions: ===<br />
If the Sponsor is unable to meet the minimum requirements as outlined in this document, the participating Legion members, at their own expense, may waive any of the above requirements or stipulations when working with the Sponsor, local venue management and security.</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRiderPrivateEventRider2011-07-27T13:46:06Z<p>Crimson: /* 501st Legion Performance and Hospitality Rider Private Events */</p>
<hr />
<div>==501st Legion Performance and Hospitality Rider Private Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Private_Rider.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion (hereafter referred to as “the Legion”) an all-volunteer fan-based organization dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through costuming — most notably the costumes and characters of the Stormtroopers, Clone Troopers and other villains from the Star Wars saga. The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the construction and exposure of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community. <br />
<br />
The Legion recognizes it holds no claim over the costumes and characters it portrays, and that their use is a privilege extended by ''Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)''. Legion Members acknowledge and accept that while in costume, we represent the Star Wars brand and will do so professionally and responsibly at all times. <br />
<br />
The Event Sponsor (hereafter referred to as “the Sponsor”) is the individual or group requesting an appearance by members of the Legion. <br />
<br />
The Sponsor understands and acknowledges that the Legion is an all-volunteer organization, and as such makes no guarantee of the Legion’s ability to provide specific character types or quantities. <br />
<br />
===Private Event Definition===<br />
<br />
A private event is any event requested for a nonpublic or non-promotional function. Private events include (but are not limited to): birthday parties, weddings, award ceremonies, retirement parties, and hospital visits.<br />
<br />
'''It should be noted that the Legion does not participate in events which might be considered political or religious in nature.'''<br />
<br />
Corporate Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRider<br />
<br />
Charity Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation=== <br />
As a rule, the Legion and its members do not charge a fee for private appearances. However, a donation in the name of the Legion to a reputable charity commensurate with the number of characters requested and the event duration is greatly appreciated. If the Sponsor does not have a charity of choice, the Legion can suggest one. For a partial list of charities the Legion has worked with in the past please view our [http://501st.com/charity.php charity list]. Please discuss preferred charities with your local Garrison's point of contact person.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses: ===<br />
The Sponsor may be asked to compensate participating members for travel and expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, and lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging, and meals directly if they so choose. Traveling with elaborate costumes creates many challenges. Additional baggage fees or insured express shipping may be required to deliver costumes to and from the event location if the member is traveling by air.<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
<br />
The Sponsor shall provide a local contact to be the local Legion Garrison Command Staff or Garrison Event Coordinator not less than two weeks prior to the event. Large venue events and events requesting more than 12 Legion members may require more lead time.<br />
<br />
The Sponsor shall provide free parking and secure changing facilities for Legion members including costumed characters and handlers.<br />
<br />
===Duration of Appearances ===<br />
<br />
While helmeted or masked Legion members may be able to provide an appearance of more than 30 continuous minutes, the decision to do so lies solely at the individual Legion member's discretion and provisions should be made in scheduling to accommodate the physical limitations of some Legion costumes. Appearances longer than 30 continuous minutes should allow for breaks in locations permitting the helmeted or masked Legion member to remove costume parts in privacy.<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel ===<br />
Many of the costumes owned by the Legion members have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such, it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or handlers to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on attaining membership in the Legion.<br />
<br />
Handlers may be costumed characters without helmets such as Imperial Officers or Imperial Crew. Handlers may also be dressed casually, or in a Legion or Garrison shirt. Please advise the Legion's contact person assigned to your event of the level of formality of your event so that Legion handlers may dress appropriately.<br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters, the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event including patron interaction. <br />
<br />
===Venue Relations: ===<br />
If the event request is for a location other than a private home, the Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership and security. <br />
<br />
{|border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common use and civil properties, i.e. malls and restaurants, the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying of prop replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding prop replica weapons must be clarified and cleared by the Sponsor not less than one week prior to the event. <br />
|}<br />
<br />
Please consider the following as examples:<br />
<br />
* Hospital Visits – Hospital rooms are small. Please arrange hospital visits to common areas often available in hospitals such as day rooms or gardens. <br />
<br />
*Private Homes – Consider the area available. Darth Vader and a few Stormtroopers can completely occupy the average living room.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs: ===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the typical of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with the character being portrayed. For example, &quot;TK-1234 Stormtrooper&quot; or &quot;Darth Vader – SL-0000.&quot;<br />
<br />
Special note for children's events: the local Garrison may provide special treats for the children at the event such as &quot;Honorary Stormtrooper Certificates,&quot; activity books, temporary tattoos, autographed photos, stickers and other small Star Wars or Legion related material. Please feel free to discuss these items with your point of contact.<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
* A secure or lockable changing facility<br />
* Access to restroom facilities<br />
* Bottled water <br />
<br />
===Exceptions: ===<br />
If the Sponsor is unable to meet the minimum requirements as outlined in this document, the participating Legion members, at their own expense, may waive any of the above requirements or stipulations when working with the Sponsor, local venue management and security.</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRiderCorporateEventRider2011-07-27T13:46:03Z<p>Crimson: /* Requested amenities: */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Performance and Hospitality Rider Corporate and Promotional Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Corp_Rider.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion is an all-volunteer costume organization focused on professional costuming, spreading the love of Star Wars to fans around the globe, and to charity work on local, national, and world-wide levels. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion cannot make a guarantee of our ability to provide specific characters, or numbers of personnel for any given event. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members make use of Lucasfilm, Ltd. copyrights and trademarks with permission from Lucasfilm, Ltd. and hold no ownership of these intellectual properties and cannot grant any rights to the same properties. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members will comport themselves with the highest standard of professional behavior.<br />
<br />
The Event Sponsor (hereafter referred to as &quot;the Sponsor&quot;) is the event coordinator, venue, or other entity, organization, company, or individual requesting an appearance by members of the Legion.<br />
<br />
The majority of the Legion membership is not SAG or Equity members or Extras. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members. Legion members are volunteer performers and should not be asked to stage extensive scenes or other heavily choreographed action.<br />
<br />
===Corporate and Promotional Event Definition===<br />
A corporate or promotional event is any event sponsored by a corporate, advertising, promotional or marketing firm for the purpose of promoting a product, sale, or media release. <br />
<br />
'''The Legion does not participate in political or protest events.'''<br />
<br />
Typically, the product or event must have some relationship to the '''Star Wars''' franchise and may require permission and sanction by Lucasfilm, Ltd. If the Legion has any question of the validity of the product or event, the Legion reserves the right to contact Lucasfilm, Ltd. regarding the event.<br />
<br />
Legion members will be happy to sign nondisclosure agreements upon request. Please provide a copy of the agreement to the Legion and the local event coordinator for review '''a minimum of one week prior to the event'''.<br />
<br />
Charity Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRider<br />
<br />
Private Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation===<br />
*Corporate character requests shall be reimbursed at a reasonable work-time-lost day rate commensurate with local character appearance fees charged by other character providers within the same locale and not more than standard extras fees for SAG or AFTRA. This is requested per-character. <br />
<br />
*A donation to a charity made in the name of the Legion may be requested in lieu of or in addition to individual character payment, and is in line with our mission to work for charity in conjunction with our activities. <br />
<br />
*For a list of charities the Legion has worked with in the past, please see refer to our [http://501st.com/charity.php charity list]. Please discuss preferred charities with your local Garrison point of contact.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses:===<br />
The Sponsor may be asked to compensate participating members for travel and expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, and lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging, and meals directly if they so choose. Traveling with elaborate costumes creates many challenges. Additional baggage fees or insured express shipping may be required to deliver costumes to and from the event location if the member is traveling by air.<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
<br />
501st Legion members are volunteers with real-life responsibilities including jobs and families. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members.<br />
The limitations of our costumes require the following:<br />
<br />
*A minimum of two weeks lead time for planning. 30 days is preferred.<br />
<br />
*Both the Sponsor and the local Garrison will provide a specific contact person for relating all information back and forth.<br />
<br />
*Frequent breaks in a climate-controlled (if possible) area every 30 minutes to 2 hours (depending on the character(s) present).<br />
<br />
*Access to water.<br />
<br />
*Access to restrooms.<br />
<br />
*Access to a changing area that is secure or lockable, clean, well-lit, private, furnished with tables and/or chairs/stools. (e.g. a break room or conference room). A bathroom or storage closet is not acceptable.<br />
<br />
*Free or compensated parking that is close to the venue (less than 5 minutes walking distance).<br />
<br />
*A safe environment that is well-maintained and well-lit for our members to be featured or to interact with the public.<br />
<br />
*Allowances for handlers from within our own group to be present for the safety of our members.<br />
<br />
*Security is to be handled by the Sponsor, not the Legion members.<br />
<br />
*We are unable to perform complicated skits, battles, or extensive choreography. Therefore, appearances should be planned with this restriction in mind.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel===<br />
Many of the costumes owned by the Legion members have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such, it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or handlers to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on attaining membership in the Legion. <br />
<br />
Handlers may be costumed characters without helmets such as Imperial Officers or Imperial Crew. Handlers may also be dressed casually, or in a Legion or Garrison shirt. Please advise the Legion's contact person assigned to your event of the level of formality of your event so that Legion handlers may dress appropriately. <br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters, the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event including patron interaction.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Venue Relations:===<br />
The Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership, and security. <br />
<br />
{| border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common-use, and civil properties (e.g. shopping malls), the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding masks or replica weapons must be clarified and cleared by the sponsor not less than one week prior to the event.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The Sponsor agrees to allow full access to the performance venue and pre-performance facilities to the Legion members acting as costumed characters or handlers a minimum of one hour prior to the event. This requirement may be adjusted depending on the scope and scale of the event and as agreed upon by the Sponsor and the local Legion event coordinator.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs:===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the typical of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with the character being portrayed. For example, &quot;TK-1234 Stormtrooper&quot; or &quot;Darth Vader – SL-0000.&quot; The Legion does not require the purchase of an item or a donation to sign an autograph. The Sponsor agrees not to require purchases or donations in order to receive an autograph or take a photograph with a costumed character.<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
*A secure or lockable changing facility<br />
*Access to restroom facilities<br />
*Bottled water<br />
*Meals and snacks if the event is scheduled to run more than four hours.<br />
*Donations commensurate with the number of troopers and duration of the event in the name of the 501st Legion to a reputable charity.<br />
<br />
===Requested Amenities:===<br />
*Clear, clean tables<br />
*Chairs or stools <br />
<br />
In general, a good rule of thumb would be one 2’ x 6’ or 2’ x 8’ table with chairs for every 3 to 4 characters. Due to restricted mobility, most armored characters cannot sit down in their costumes. High stools such as bar stools are excellent seats for Stormtroopers if they are available.<br />
<br />
===Nice Touches:===<br />
*Event tickets or passes (musical, theatrical, film or exhibit events)<br />
*Snacks or meals if the event is scheduled for more than two hours.<br />
*Access to non-public restroom facilities<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRiderCorporateEventRider2011-07-27T13:39:51Z<p>Crimson: /* Travel and Expenses: */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Performance and Hospitality Rider Corporate and Promotional Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Corp_Rider.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion is an all-volunteer costume organization focused on professional costuming, spreading the love of Star Wars to fans around the globe, and to charity work on local, national, and world-wide levels. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion cannot make a guarantee of our ability to provide specific characters, or numbers of personnel for any given event. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members make use of Lucasfilm, Ltd. copyrights and trademarks with permission from Lucasfilm, Ltd. and hold no ownership of these intellectual properties and cannot grant any rights to the same properties. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members will comport themselves with the highest standard of professional behavior.<br />
<br />
The Event Sponsor (hereafter referred to as &quot;the Sponsor&quot;) is the event coordinator, venue, or other entity, organization, company, or individual requesting an appearance by members of the Legion.<br />
<br />
The majority of the Legion membership is not SAG or Equity members or Extras. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members. Legion members are volunteer performers and should not be asked to stage extensive scenes or other heavily choreographed action.<br />
<br />
===Corporate and Promotional Event Definition===<br />
A corporate or promotional event is any event sponsored by a corporate, advertising, promotional or marketing firm for the purpose of promoting a product, sale, or media release. <br />
<br />
'''The Legion does not participate in political or protest events.'''<br />
<br />
Typically, the product or event must have some relationship to the '''Star Wars''' franchise and may require permission and sanction by Lucasfilm, Ltd. If the Legion has any question of the validity of the product or event, the Legion reserves the right to contact Lucasfilm, Ltd. regarding the event.<br />
<br />
Legion members will be happy to sign nondisclosure agreements upon request. Please provide a copy of the agreement to the Legion and the local event coordinator for review '''a minimum of one week prior to the event'''.<br />
<br />
Charity Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRider<br />
<br />
Private Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation===<br />
*Corporate character requests shall be reimbursed at a reasonable work-time-lost day rate commensurate with local character appearance fees charged by other character providers within the same locale and not more than standard extras fees for SAG or AFTRA. This is requested per-character. <br />
<br />
*A donation to a charity made in the name of the Legion may be requested in lieu of or in addition to individual character payment, and is in line with our mission to work for charity in conjunction with our activities. <br />
<br />
*For a list of charities the Legion has worked with in the past, please see refer to our [http://501st.com/charity.php charity list]. Please discuss preferred charities with your local Garrison point of contact.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses:===<br />
The Sponsor may be asked to compensate participating members for travel and expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, and lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging, and meals directly if they so choose. Traveling with elaborate costumes creates many challenges. Additional baggage fees or insured express shipping may be required to deliver costumes to and from the event location if the member is traveling by air.<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
<br />
501st Legion members are volunteers with real-life responsibilities including jobs and families. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members.<br />
The limitations of our costumes require the following:<br />
<br />
*A minimum of two weeks lead time for planning. 30 days is preferred.<br />
<br />
*Both the Sponsor and the local Garrison will provide a specific contact person for relating all information back and forth.<br />
<br />
*Frequent breaks in a climate-controlled (if possible) area every 30 minutes to 2 hours (depending on the character(s) present).<br />
<br />
*Access to water.<br />
<br />
*Access to restrooms.<br />
<br />
*Access to a changing area that is secure or lockable, clean, well-lit, private, furnished with tables and/or chairs/stools. (e.g. a break room or conference room). A bathroom or storage closet is not acceptable.<br />
<br />
*Free or compensated parking that is close to the venue (less than 5 minutes walking distance).<br />
<br />
*A safe environment that is well-maintained and well-lit for our members to be featured or to interact with the public.<br />
<br />
*Allowances for handlers from within our own group to be present for the safety of our members.<br />
<br />
*Security is to be handled by the Sponsor, not the Legion members.<br />
<br />
*We are unable to perform complicated skits, battles, or extensive choreography. Therefore, appearances should be planned with this restriction in mind.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel===<br />
Many of the costumes owned by the Legion members have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such, it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or handlers to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on attaining membership in the Legion. <br />
<br />
Handlers may be costumed characters without helmets such as Imperial Officers or Imperial Crew. Handlers may also be dressed casually, or in a Legion or Garrison shirt. Please advise the Legion's contact person assigned to your event of the level of formality of your event so that Legion handlers may dress appropriately. <br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters, the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event including patron interaction.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Venue Relations:===<br />
The Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership, and security. <br />
<br />
{| border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common-use, and civil properties (e.g. shopping malls), the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding masks or replica weapons must be clarified and cleared by the sponsor not less than one week prior to the event.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The Sponsor agrees to allow full access to the performance venue and pre-performance facilities to the Legion members acting as costumed characters or handlers a minimum of one hour prior to the event. This requirement may be adjusted depending on the scope and scale of the event and as agreed upon by the Sponsor and the local Legion event coordinator.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs:===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the typical of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with the character being portrayed. For example, &quot;TK-1234 Stormtrooper&quot; or &quot;Darth Vader – SL-0000.&quot; The Legion does not require the purchase of an item or a donation to sign an autograph. The Sponsor agrees not to require purchases or donations in order to receive an autograph or take a photograph with a costumed character.<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
*A secure or lockable changing facility<br />
*Access to restroom facilities<br />
*Bottled water<br />
*Meals and snacks if the event is scheduled to run more than four hours.<br />
*Donations commensurate with the number of troopers and duration of the event in the name of the 501st Legion to a reputable charity.<br />
<br />
===Requested amenities:===<br />
*Clear, clean tables<br />
*Chairs or stools <br />
<br />
In general, a good rule of thumb would be one 2’ x 6’ or 2’ x 8’ table with chairs for every 3 to 4 characters. Due to restricted mobility, most armored characters cannot sit down in their costumes. High stools such as bar stools are excellent seats for Stormtroopers if they are available.<br />
<br />
===Nice Touches:===<br />
*Event tickets or passes (musical, theatrical, film or exhibit events)<br />
*Snacks or meals if the event is scheduled for more than two hours.<br />
*Access to non-public restroom facilities<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRiderCorporateEventRider2011-07-27T13:31:49Z<p>Crimson: /* Performance and Hospitality Rider Corporate and Promotional Events */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Performance and Hospitality Rider Corporate and Promotional Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Corp_Rider.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion is an all-volunteer costume organization focused on professional costuming, spreading the love of Star Wars to fans around the globe, and to charity work on local, national, and world-wide levels. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion cannot make a guarantee of our ability to provide specific characters, or numbers of personnel for any given event. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members make use of Lucasfilm, Ltd. copyrights and trademarks with permission from Lucasfilm, Ltd. and hold no ownership of these intellectual properties and cannot grant any rights to the same properties. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members will comport themselves with the highest standard of professional behavior.<br />
<br />
The Event Sponsor (hereafter referred to as &quot;the Sponsor&quot;) is the event coordinator, venue, or other entity, organization, company, or individual requesting an appearance by members of the Legion.<br />
<br />
The majority of the Legion membership is not SAG or Equity members or Extras. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members. Legion members are volunteer performers and should not be asked to stage extensive scenes or other heavily choreographed action.<br />
<br />
===Corporate and Promotional Event Definition===<br />
A corporate or promotional event is any event sponsored by a corporate, advertising, promotional or marketing firm for the purpose of promoting a product, sale, or media release. <br />
<br />
'''The Legion does not participate in political or protest events.'''<br />
<br />
Typically, the product or event must have some relationship to the '''Star Wars''' franchise and may require permission and sanction by Lucasfilm, Ltd. If the Legion has any question of the validity of the product or event, the Legion reserves the right to contact Lucasfilm, Ltd. regarding the event.<br />
<br />
Legion members will be happy to sign nondisclosure agreements upon request. Please provide a copy of the agreement to the Legion and the local event coordinator for review '''a minimum of one week prior to the event'''.<br />
<br />
Charity Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRider<br />
<br />
Private Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation===<br />
*Corporate character requests shall be reimbursed at a reasonable work-time-lost day rate commensurate with local character appearance fees charged by other character providers within the same locale and not more than standard extras fees for SAG or AFTRA. This is requested per-character. <br />
<br />
*A donation to a charity made in the name of the Legion may be requested in lieu of or in addition to individual character payment, and is in line with our mission to work for charity in conjunction with our activities. <br />
<br />
*For a list of charities the Legion has worked with in the past, please see refer to our [http://501st.com/charity.php charity list]. Please discuss preferred charities with your local Garrison point of contact.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses:===<br />
The Sponsor may be asked to compensate the participating membership for travel and expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, and lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging and meals directly if they so choose.<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
<br />
501st Legion members are volunteers with real-life responsibilities including jobs and families. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members.<br />
The limitations of our costumes require the following:<br />
<br />
*A minimum of two weeks lead time for planning. 30 days is preferred.<br />
<br />
*Both the Sponsor and the local Garrison will provide a specific contact person for relating all information back and forth.<br />
<br />
*Frequent breaks in a climate-controlled (if possible) area every 30 minutes to 2 hours (depending on the character(s) present).<br />
<br />
*Access to water.<br />
<br />
*Access to restrooms.<br />
<br />
*Access to a changing area that is secure or lockable, clean, well-lit, private, furnished with tables and/or chairs/stools. (e.g. a break room or conference room). A bathroom or storage closet is not acceptable.<br />
<br />
*Free or compensated parking that is close to the venue (less than 5 minutes walking distance).<br />
<br />
*A safe environment that is well-maintained and well-lit for our members to be featured or to interact with the public.<br />
<br />
*Allowances for handlers from within our own group to be present for the safety of our members.<br />
<br />
*Security is to be handled by the Sponsor, not the Legion members.<br />
<br />
*We are unable to perform complicated skits, battles, or extensive choreography. Therefore, appearances should be planned with this restriction in mind.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel===<br />
Many of the costumes owned by the Legion members have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such, it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or handlers to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on attaining membership in the Legion. <br />
<br />
Handlers may be costumed characters without helmets such as Imperial Officers or Imperial Crew. Handlers may also be dressed casually, or in a Legion or Garrison shirt. Please advise the Legion's contact person assigned to your event of the level of formality of your event so that Legion handlers may dress appropriately. <br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters, the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event including patron interaction.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Venue Relations:===<br />
The Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership, and security. <br />
<br />
{| border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common-use, and civil properties (e.g. shopping malls), the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding masks or replica weapons must be clarified and cleared by the sponsor not less than one week prior to the event.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The Sponsor agrees to allow full access to the performance venue and pre-performance facilities to the Legion members acting as costumed characters or handlers a minimum of one hour prior to the event. This requirement may be adjusted depending on the scope and scale of the event and as agreed upon by the Sponsor and the local Legion event coordinator.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs:===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the typical of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with the character being portrayed. For example, &quot;TK-1234 Stormtrooper&quot; or &quot;Darth Vader – SL-0000.&quot; The Legion does not require the purchase of an item or a donation to sign an autograph. The Sponsor agrees not to require purchases or donations in order to receive an autograph or take a photograph with a costumed character.<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
*A secure or lockable changing facility<br />
*Access to restroom facilities<br />
*Bottled water<br />
*Meals and snacks if the event is scheduled to run more than four hours.<br />
*Donations commensurate with the number of troopers and duration of the event in the name of the 501st Legion to a reputable charity.<br />
<br />
===Requested amenities:===<br />
*Clear, clean tables<br />
*Chairs or stools <br />
<br />
In general, a good rule of thumb would be one 2’ x 6’ or 2’ x 8’ table with chairs for every 3 to 4 characters. Due to restricted mobility, most armored characters cannot sit down in their costumes. High stools such as bar stools are excellent seats for Stormtroopers if they are available.<br />
<br />
===Nice Touches:===<br />
*Event tickets or passes (musical, theatrical, film or exhibit events)<br />
*Snacks or meals if the event is scheduled for more than two hours.<br />
*Access to non-public restroom facilities<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRiderCharityEventRider2011-07-27T13:29:18Z<p>Crimson: /* 501st Legion Performance and Hospitality Rider Charity Events */</p>
<hr />
<div>==501st Legion Performance and Hospitality Rider Charity Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Charity_Rider.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion (hereafter referred to as “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”) is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through costuming; specifically the costumes and characters of the Stormtrooper and other Imperial forces, as well as non-affiliated villains and denizens. The Legion is an all-volunteer organization formed for the express purpose of bringing together costume enthusiasts under a collective identity within which to operate. The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
The Legion recognizes it holds no claim over the costumes and characters it portrays, and that their use is a privilege extended by ''Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)''. The members of the Legion acknowledge and accept that while in costume, we represent the Star Wars brand and will do so professionally and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
The Event Sponsor (hereafter referred to as “the Sponsor”) is the event coordinator, venue, or other entity, organization, company, or individual requesting an appearance by members of the Legion.<br />
<br />
The Sponsor understands and acknowledges that the Legion is an entirely all-volunteer organization and as such makes no guarantee of their ability to provide specific character types or character quantities.<br />
<br />
Depending on various conditions such as health or environment, 20 to 30 minutes is the maximum recommended time a trooper or any other helmeted or masked character should go without a break. While it is possible for a helmeted or masked character to go longer than this period of time, provisions should be made in scheduling to allow characters to take breaks during an appearance longer than 30 minutes. Breaks normally consist of the masked character being able to go somewhere out of sight in order to remove their helmet/mask, drink water or take a quick breather. Open-faced costumes such as Imperial Officers, Death Star Troopers and technicians may be available for longer periods. For longer events, a 2 hour shift (with breaks interspersed every 30 minutes) is the maximum a fully enclosed character can be expected to handle without a substantial break. <br />
<br />
===Charity Event Definition===<br />
A charity event is any event sponsored by a reputable charity for the purposes of raising awareness or fundraising. Examples include Toys-For-Tots store appearances in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps, blood drives, charity fairs, walks and runs, school fairs, and scouting events. <br />
<br />
'''It should be noted that the Legion does not participate in political or protest events.'''<br />
<br />
Corporate Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRider<br />
<br />
Private Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation===<br />
The Legion and its members do not accept appearance fees for charity-sponsored events.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses:===<br />
The Sponsor may be asked to compensate participating members for travel and expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, and lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging, and meals directly if they so choose.<br />
<br />
{|border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note: Traveling with armor creates many challenges. Additional baggage fees or insured express shipping may be required to deliver costumes to and from the event location if the member is traveling by air.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
501st Legion members are volunteers with real-life responsibilities including jobs and families. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members.<br />
The limitations of our costumes require the following:<br />
<br />
*A minimum of two weeks lead time for planning. 30 days is preferred.<br />
<br />
*Both the Sponsor and the local Garrison will provide a specific contact person for relating all information back and forth.<br />
<br />
*Frequent breaks in a climate-controlled (if possible) area every 30 minutes to 2 hours (depending on the character(s) present).<br />
<br />
*Access to water.<br />
<br />
*Access to restrooms.<br />
<br />
*Access to a changing area that is secure or lockable, clean, well-lit, private, furnished with tables and/or chairs/stools. (e.g. a break room or conference room). A bathroom or storage closet is not acceptable.<br />
<br />
*Free or compensated parking that is close to the venue (less than 5 minutes walking distance).<br />
<br />
*A safe environment that is well-maintained and well-lit for our members to be featured or to interact with the public.<br />
<br />
*Allowances for handlers from within our own group to be present for the safety of our members.<br />
<br />
*Security is to be handled by the Sponsor, not the Legion members.<br />
<br />
*We are unable to perform complicated skits, battles, or extensive choreography. Therefore, appearances should be planned with this restriction in mind.<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel===<br />
Many of the costumes owned by the Legion members have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such, it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or handlers to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on attaining membership in the Legion. <br />
<br />
Handlers may be costumed characters without helmets such as Imperial Officers or Imperial Crew. Handlers may also be dressed casually, or in a Legion or Garrison shirt. Please advise the Legion's contact person assigned to your event of the level of formality of your event so that Legion handlers may dress appropriately. <br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters, the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event including patron interaction.<br />
<br />
===Venue Relations:===<br />
The Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership, and security. <br />
<br />
{| border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common-use, and civil properties (e.g. shopping malls), the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding masks or replica weapons must be clarified and cleared by the sponsor not less than one week prior to the event.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The Sponsor agrees to allow full access to the performance venue and pre-performance facilities to the Legion members acting as costumed characters or handlers a minimum of one hour prior to the event. This requirement may be adjusted depending on the scope and scale of the event and as agreed upon by the Sponsor and the local Legion event coordinator.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs:===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the typical of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with the character being portrayed. For example, &quot;TK-1234 Stormtrooper&quot; or &quot;Darth Vader – SL-0000.&quot; The Legion does not require the purchase of an item or a donation to sign an autograph. The Sponsor agrees not to require purchases or donations in order to receive an autograph or take a photograph with a costumed character.<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
*A secure or lockable changing facility<br />
*Access to restroom facilities<br />
*Bottled water<br />
<br />
===Requested amenities:===<br />
*Clear, clean tables<br />
*Chairs or stools <br />
*Meals and snacks if the event is scheduled to run more than four hours.<br />
<br />
In general, a good rule of thumb would be one 2’ x 6’ or 2’ x 8’ table with chairs for every 3 to 4 characters. Due to restricted mobility, most armored characters cannot sit down in their costumes. High stools such as bar stools are excellent seats for Stormtroopers if they are available.<br />
<br />
===Nice Touches:===<br />
*Event tickets or passes (musical, theatrical, film or exhibit events)<br />
*Snacks or meals if the event is scheduled for more than two hours.<br />
*Access to non-public restroom facilities</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/Talk:CorporateEventRiderTalk:CorporateEventRider2011-07-19T16:21:28Z<p>Crimson: Created page with &quot;The first paragraph seems to try to say the same thing as the Charity Rider, but worded completely differently. Is this intentional, or an oversight?&quot;</p>
<hr />
<div>The first paragraph seems to try to say the same thing as the Charity Rider, but worded completely differently. Is this intentional, or an oversight?</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRiderCharityEventRider2011-07-19T16:18:26Z<p>Crimson: /* 501st Legion Performance and Hospitality Rider Charity Events */</p>
<hr />
<div>==501st Legion Performance and Hospitality Rider Charity Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Charity_Rider.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion (hereafter referred to as “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”) is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through costuming; specifically the costumes and characters of the Stormtrooper and other Imperial forces, as well as non-affiliated villains and denizens. The Legion is an all-volunteer organization formed for the express purpose of bringing together costume enthusiasts under a collective identity within which to operate. The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
The Legion recognizes it holds no claim over the costumes and characters it portrays, and that their use is a privilege extended by ''Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)''. The members of the Legion acknowledge and accept that while in costume, we represent the Star Wars brand and will do so professionally and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
The Event Sponsor (hereafter referred to as “the Sponsor”) is the event coordinator, venue, or other entity, organization, company, or individual requesting an appearance by members of the Legion.<br />
<br />
The Sponsor understands and acknowledges that the Legion is an entirely all-volunteer organization and as such makes no guarantee of their ability to provide specific character types or character quantities.<br />
<br />
Depending on various conditions such as health or environment, 20 to 30 minutes is the maximum recommended time a trooper or any other helmeted or masked character should go without a break. While it is possible for a helmeted or masked character to go longer than this period of time, provisions should be made in scheduling to allow characters to take breaks during an appearance longer than 30 minutes. Breaks normally consist of the masked character being able to go somewhere out of sight in order to remove their helmet/mask, drink water or take a quick breather. Open-faced costumes such as Imperial Officers, Death Star Troopers and technicians may be available for longer periods. For longer events, a 2 hour shift (with breaks interspersed every 30 minutes) is the maximum a fully enclosed character can be expected to handle without a substantial break. <br />
<br />
===Charity Event Definition===<br />
A charity event is any event sponsored by a reputable charity for the purposes of raising awareness or fundraising. Examples include Toys-For-Tots store appearances in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps, blood drives, charity fairs, walks and runs, school fairs, and scouting events. <br />
<br />
'''It should be noted that the Legion does not participate in political or protest events.'''<br />
<br />
Corporate Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRider<br />
<br />
Private Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation===<br />
The Legion and its members do not accept appearance fees for charity-sponsored events.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses:===<br />
The Sponsor may be asked to compensate participating members for travel and expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, and lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging, and meals directly if they so choose.<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
501st Legion members are volunteers with real-life responsibilities including jobs and families. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members.<br />
The limitations of our costumes require the following:<br />
<br />
*A minimum of two weeks lead time for planning. 30 days is preferred.<br />
<br />
*Both the Sponsor and the local Garrison will provide a specific contact person for relating all information back and forth.<br />
<br />
*Frequent breaks in a climate-controlled (if possible) area every 30 minutes to 2 hours (depending on the character(s) present).<br />
<br />
*Access to water.<br />
<br />
*Access to restrooms.<br />
<br />
*Access to a changing area that is secure or lockable, clean, well-lit, private, furnished with tables and/or chairs/stools. (e.g. a break room or conference room). A bathroom or storage closet is not acceptable.<br />
<br />
*Free or compensated parking that is close to the venue (less than 5 minutes walking distance).<br />
<br />
*A safe environment that is well-maintained and well-lit for our members to be featured or to interact with the public.<br />
<br />
*Allowances for handlers from within our own group to be present for the safety of our members.<br />
<br />
*Security is to be handled by the Sponsor, not the Legion members.<br />
<br />
*We are unable to perform complicated skits, battles, or extensive choreography. Therefore, appearances should be planned with this restriction in mind.<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel===<br />
Many of the costumes owned by the Legion members have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such, it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or handlers to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on attaining membership in the Legion. <br />
<br />
Handlers may be costumed characters without helmets such as Imperial Officers or Imperial Crew. Handlers may also be dressed casually, or in a Legion or Garrison shirt. Please advise the Legion's contact person assigned to your event of the level of formality of your event so that Legion handlers may dress appropriately. <br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters, the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event including patron interaction.<br />
<br />
===Venue Relations:===<br />
The Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership, and security. <br />
<br />
{| border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common-use, and civil properties (e.g. shopping malls), the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding masks or replica weapons must be clarified and cleared by the sponsor not less than one week prior to the event.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The Sponsor agrees to allow full access to the performance venue and pre-performance facilities to the Legion members acting as costumed characters or handlers a minimum of one hour prior to the event. This requirement may be adjusted depending on the scope and scale of the event and as agreed upon by the Sponsor and the local Legion event coordinator.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs:===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the typical of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with the character being portrayed. For example, &quot;TK-1234 Stormtrooper&quot; or &quot;Darth Vader – SL-0000.&quot; The Legion does not require the purchase of an item or a donation to sign an autograph. The Sponsor agrees not to require purchases or donations in order to receive an autograph or take a photograph with a costumed character.<br />
<br />
{|border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note: Traveling with armor creates many challenges. Additional baggage fees or insured express shipping may be required to deliver costumes to and from the event location if the member is traveling by air.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
*A secure or lockable changing facility<br />
*Access to restroom facilities<br />
*Bottled water<br />
<br />
===Requested amenities:===<br />
*Clear, clean tables<br />
*Chairs or stools <br />
*Meals and snacks if the event is scheduled to run more than four hours.<br />
<br />
In general, a good rule of thumb would be one 2’ x 6’ or 2’ x 8’ table with chairs for every 3 to 4 characters. Due to restricted mobility, most armored characters cannot sit down in their costumes. High stools such as bar stools are excellent seats for Stormtroopers if they are available.<br />
<br />
===Nice Touches:===<br />
*Event tickets or passes (musical, theatrical, film or exhibit events)<br />
*Snacks or meals if the event is scheduled for more than two hours.<br />
*Access to non-public restroom facilities</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRiderCorporateEventRider2011-06-28T18:07:46Z<p>Crimson: /* Required Amenities: */ Corrected case for consistency, replaced &quot;commiserate&quot; with &quot;commensurate&quot; again.</p>
<hr />
<div>==Performance and Hospitality Rider Corporate and Promotional Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Corporate_Rider_V1-1.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion is an all-volunteer costume organization focused on professional costuming, spreading the love of Star Wars to fans around the globe, and to charity work on local, national, and world-wide levels. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion cannot make a guarantee of our ability to provide specific characters, or numbers of personnel for any given event. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members make use of Lucasfilm LTD copyrights and trademarks with permission from Lucasfilm LTD and hold no ownership of these intellectual properties and cannot grant any rights to the same properties. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members will comport themselves with the highest standard of professional behavior. <br />
<br />
The Venue, Sponsor (hereafter referred to as “the Sponsor”) is the event coordinator, sponsor, venue, or other entity, organization, company or individual requesting an appearance by members of the Legion.<br />
<br />
The majority of the Legion membership is not SAG or Equity members or Extras. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members. Legion members are volunteer performers and shouldn’t be asked to stage extensive scenes or other heavily choreographed action.<br />
<br />
===Corporate and Promotional Event Definition===<br />
A corporate or promotional event is any event sponsored by a corporate, advertising, promotions or marketing firm for the purpose of promoting a product, sale, media release. <br />
<br />
'''It should be noted that the Legion does not participate in political or protest events.'''<br />
<br />
Typically the product or event must have some relationship to the '''Star Wars''' franchise and may require permission and sanction by Lucasfilm Ltd. If the Legion has any question of the validity of the product or event the Legion reserves the right to contact Lucasfilm Ltd. regarding the event.<br />
<br />
Legion members will be happy to sign nondisclosure agreements upon request. Please provide a copy of the agreement to the Legion and the local event coordinator for review a minimum of one week prior to the event.<br />
<br />
Charity Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRider<br />
<br />
Private Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation===<br />
*Corporate character requests shall be reimbursed at a reasonable work-time-lost day rate commensurate with local character appearance fees charged by other character providers within the same locale and not more than standard extras fees for SAG or AFTRA). This is per-character requested. <br />
<br />
*A donation to a charity made in the name of the 501st legion may be requested in lieu of payment, and is in line with our mission to work for charity in conjunction with our costuming. <br />
<br />
*For a list of charities the Legion has worked with in the past please see http://501st.com/charity.php.<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
<br />
501st Legion members are volunteers with “real-life” responsibilities including jobs and families. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members. <br />
<br />
The limitations of our costumes require the following: <br />
<br />
*A minimum of two weeks lead time for planning, 30 days is preferred. <br />
<br />
* Both the Event host and the local Garrison will provide a specific Point of Contact for relating all information back and forth. <br />
<br />
*Frequent breaks in a shaded (and cooled) area (depending on the character every 30 minutes to every 2 hours) <br />
<br />
*Access to water/drinks <br />
<br />
*Access to bathrooms <br />
<br />
*Access to a changing area that is clean, well lit, private, furnished with tables and/or chairs/stools. I.e a break room or conference room. A bathroom or storage closet is not acceptable.<br />
<br />
*Free or compensated parking that is close to the venue (less than 5 minutes walking distance) <br />
<br />
*A safe environment that is well maintained and well lit for our members to be featured or to interact with the public. <br />
<br />
*Handlers from within our own group to be present for the safety of our members. <br />
<br />
*Security to be handled by the venue or sponsor, not the Legion members. <br />
<br />
*We are unable to do skits/battles, or extensive choreography, appearances should be scripted with this restriction in mind.<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel===<br />
Many of the costumes provided by the Legion membership have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or ‘handlers’ to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on achieving membership in the Legion. <br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event.<br />
<br />
===Venue Relations:===<br />
The Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership and security. <br />
<br />
{|border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common use and civil properties, i.e. malls, the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying of replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding prop weapons must be clarified and cleared by the sponsor not less than one week prior to the event.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The Sponsor agrees to allow full access to the performance venue and pre-performance facilities to the Legion members acting as costumed characters or handlers a minimum of one hour prior to the event. This requirement may be adjusted depending on the scope and scale of the event and a agreed upon by the Sponsor and the local Legion event coordinator.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs:===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the policy of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with their character for example; TK-#### Stormtrooper or Darth Vader – SL-####. We cannot and will not require the purchase of an item to sign in order to grant an autograph. Items may be available, such as books, frames, etc. However, the Sponsor agrees not to require the purchase of any item, coupon, ticket or token in order to obtain an autograph or photograph with a costumed character. Similarly, charity organizations agree to not require a donation in order to receive an autograph or take a photograph with a costumed character.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses:===<br />
If the event is a multi-garrison event or requires Legion Members to travel in excess of 50 miles the Sponsor may be asked to compensate the participating membership for travel expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging and meals directly if they so choose.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
*A changing facility<br />
*Access to restroom facilities<br />
*Bottled Water<br />
*Meal and snacks if the event is scheduled to run more than four hours.<br />
*Donations commensurate with the number of troopers and duration of the event in the name of the 501st Legion to a reputable charity.<br />
<br />
===Requested amenities:===<br />
*Clear clean tables in the changing facility<br />
*Chairs / Barstools <br />
<br />
In general a good rule of thumb would be one (1) 2’ x 6’ or 2’ x 8’ table with chairs for every 3 to 4 characters. Due to restricted mobility, most armored characters cannot sit down in their costumes. “Bar stools” are an excellent seat for Stormtroopers if they are available.<br />
<br />
===Nice Touches:===<br />
*Snacks or meals if the event is scheduled for more than two hours.<br />
*Event tickets or passes (musical, theatrical, film or exhibit events)<br />
*Access to non-public restroom facilities<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRiderCorporateEventRider2011-06-28T18:06:41Z<p>Crimson: /* Autographs and Photographs: */ Corrected the form of &quot;manner&quot; from &quot;manor&quot; in second sentence, word-form of &quot;Stormtrooper.&quot; Edited last sentence for clarity.</p>
<hr />
<div>==Performance and Hospitality Rider Corporate and Promotional Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Corporate_Rider_V1-1.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion is an all-volunteer costume organization focused on professional costuming, spreading the love of Star Wars to fans around the globe, and to charity work on local, national, and world-wide levels. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion cannot make a guarantee of our ability to provide specific characters, or numbers of personnel for any given event. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members make use of Lucasfilm LTD copyrights and trademarks with permission from Lucasfilm LTD and hold no ownership of these intellectual properties and cannot grant any rights to the same properties. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members will comport themselves with the highest standard of professional behavior. <br />
<br />
The Venue, Sponsor (hereafter referred to as “the Sponsor”) is the event coordinator, sponsor, venue, or other entity, organization, company or individual requesting an appearance by members of the Legion.<br />
<br />
The majority of the Legion membership is not SAG or Equity members or Extras. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members. Legion members are volunteer performers and shouldn’t be asked to stage extensive scenes or other heavily choreographed action.<br />
<br />
===Corporate and Promotional Event Definition===<br />
A corporate or promotional event is any event sponsored by a corporate, advertising, promotions or marketing firm for the purpose of promoting a product, sale, media release. <br />
<br />
'''It should be noted that the Legion does not participate in political or protest events.'''<br />
<br />
Typically the product or event must have some relationship to the '''Star Wars''' franchise and may require permission and sanction by Lucasfilm Ltd. If the Legion has any question of the validity of the product or event the Legion reserves the right to contact Lucasfilm Ltd. regarding the event.<br />
<br />
Legion members will be happy to sign nondisclosure agreements upon request. Please provide a copy of the agreement to the Legion and the local event coordinator for review a minimum of one week prior to the event.<br />
<br />
Charity Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRider<br />
<br />
Private Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation===<br />
*Corporate character requests shall be reimbursed at a reasonable work-time-lost day rate commensurate with local character appearance fees charged by other character providers within the same locale and not more than standard extras fees for SAG or AFTRA). This is per-character requested. <br />
<br />
*A donation to a charity made in the name of the 501st legion may be requested in lieu of payment, and is in line with our mission to work for charity in conjunction with our costuming. <br />
<br />
*For a list of charities the Legion has worked with in the past please see http://501st.com/charity.php.<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
<br />
501st Legion members are volunteers with “real-life” responsibilities including jobs and families. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members. <br />
<br />
The limitations of our costumes require the following: <br />
<br />
*A minimum of two weeks lead time for planning, 30 days is preferred. <br />
<br />
* Both the Event host and the local Garrison will provide a specific Point of Contact for relating all information back and forth. <br />
<br />
*Frequent breaks in a shaded (and cooled) area (depending on the character every 30 minutes to every 2 hours) <br />
<br />
*Access to water/drinks <br />
<br />
*Access to bathrooms <br />
<br />
*Access to a changing area that is clean, well lit, private, furnished with tables and/or chairs/stools. I.e a break room or conference room. A bathroom or storage closet is not acceptable.<br />
<br />
*Free or compensated parking that is close to the venue (less than 5 minutes walking distance) <br />
<br />
*A safe environment that is well maintained and well lit for our members to be featured or to interact with the public. <br />
<br />
*Handlers from within our own group to be present for the safety of our members. <br />
<br />
*Security to be handled by the venue or sponsor, not the Legion members. <br />
<br />
*We are unable to do skits/battles, or extensive choreography, appearances should be scripted with this restriction in mind.<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel===<br />
Many of the costumes provided by the Legion membership have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or ‘handlers’ to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on achieving membership in the Legion. <br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event.<br />
<br />
===Venue Relations:===<br />
The Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership and security. <br />
<br />
{|border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common use and civil properties, i.e. malls, the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying of replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding prop weapons must be clarified and cleared by the sponsor not less than one week prior to the event.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The Sponsor agrees to allow full access to the performance venue and pre-performance facilities to the Legion members acting as costumed characters or handlers a minimum of one hour prior to the event. This requirement may be adjusted depending on the scope and scale of the event and a agreed upon by the Sponsor and the local Legion event coordinator.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs:===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the policy of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manner consistent with their character for example; TK-#### Stormtrooper or Darth Vader – SL-####. We cannot and will not require the purchase of an item to sign in order to grant an autograph. Items may be available, such as books, frames, etc. However, the Sponsor agrees not to require the purchase of any item, coupon, ticket or token in order to obtain an autograph or photograph with a costumed character. Similarly, charity organizations agree to not require a donation in order to receive an autograph or take a photograph with a costumed character.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses:===<br />
If the event is a multi-garrison event or requires Legion Members to travel in excess of 50 miles the Sponsor may be asked to compensate the participating membership for travel expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging and meals directly if they so choose.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
*A Changing Facility<br />
*Access to restroom facilities<br />
*Bottled Water<br />
*Meal and snacks if the event is scheduled to run more than four hours.<br />
*Donations commiserate with the number of troopers and duration of the event in the name of the 501st Legion to a reputable charity.<br />
<br />
===Requested amenities:===<br />
*Clear clean tables in the changing facility<br />
*Chairs / Barstools <br />
<br />
In general a good rule of thumb would be one (1) 2’ x 6’ or 2’ x 8’ table with chairs for every 3 to 4 characters. Due to restricted mobility, most armored characters cannot sit down in their costumes. “Bar stools” are an excellent seat for Stormtroopers if they are available.<br />
<br />
===Nice Touches:===<br />
*Snacks or meals if the event is scheduled for more than two hours.<br />
*Event tickets or passes (musical, theatrical, film or exhibit events)<br />
*Access to non-public restroom facilities<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/CorporateEventRiderCorporateEventRider2011-06-28T18:03:14Z<p>Crimson: /* Character Compensation */ Corrected &quot;commiserate&quot; to &quot;commensurate&quot; in first bullet item.</p>
<hr />
<div>==Performance and Hospitality Rider Corporate and Promotional Events==<br />
<br />
Download PDF [[media:Corporate_Rider_V1-1.pdf]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.501st.com/request.php Legion Event Request Form]<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion is an all-volunteer costume organization focused on professional costuming, spreading the love of Star Wars to fans around the globe, and to charity work on local, national, and world-wide levels. <br />
<br />
The 501st Legion cannot make a guarantee of our ability to provide specific characters, or numbers of personnel for any given event. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members make use of Lucasfilm LTD copyrights and trademarks with permission from Lucasfilm LTD and hold no ownership of these intellectual properties and cannot grant any rights to the same properties. <br />
<br />
All 501st Legion members will comport themselves with the highest standard of professional behavior. <br />
<br />
The Venue, Sponsor (hereafter referred to as “the Sponsor”) is the event coordinator, sponsor, venue, or other entity, organization, company or individual requesting an appearance by members of the Legion.<br />
<br />
The majority of the Legion membership is not SAG or Equity members or Extras. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members. Legion members are volunteer performers and shouldn’t be asked to stage extensive scenes or other heavily choreographed action.<br />
<br />
===Corporate and Promotional Event Definition===<br />
A corporate or promotional event is any event sponsored by a corporate, advertising, promotions or marketing firm for the purpose of promoting a product, sale, media release. <br />
<br />
'''It should be noted that the Legion does not participate in political or protest events.'''<br />
<br />
Typically the product or event must have some relationship to the '''Star Wars''' franchise and may require permission and sanction by Lucasfilm Ltd. If the Legion has any question of the validity of the product or event the Legion reserves the right to contact Lucasfilm Ltd. regarding the event.<br />
<br />
Legion members will be happy to sign nondisclosure agreements upon request. Please provide a copy of the agreement to the Legion and the local event coordinator for review a minimum of one week prior to the event.<br />
<br />
Charity Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/CharityEventRider<br />
<br />
Private Event Requirements may be found here http://www.501st.com/databank/PrivateEventRider<br />
<br />
===Character Compensation===<br />
*Corporate character requests shall be reimbursed at a reasonable work-time-lost day rate commensurate with local character appearance fees charged by other character providers within the same locale and not more than standard extras fees for SAG or AFTRA). This is per-character requested. <br />
<br />
*A donation to a charity made in the name of the 501st legion may be requested in lieu of payment, and is in line with our mission to work for charity in conjunction with our costuming. <br />
<br />
*For a list of charities the Legion has worked with in the past please see http://501st.com/charity.php.<br />
<br />
===Minimum Requirements:===<br />
<br />
501st Legion members are volunteers with “real-life” responsibilities including jobs and families. Radical changes in call times, daytime rehearsals, etc., all put extra stress on Legion members. <br />
<br />
The limitations of our costumes require the following: <br />
<br />
*A minimum of two weeks lead time for planning, 30 days is preferred. <br />
<br />
* Both the Event host and the local Garrison will provide a specific Point of Contact for relating all information back and forth. <br />
<br />
*Frequent breaks in a shaded (and cooled) area (depending on the character every 30 minutes to every 2 hours) <br />
<br />
*Access to water/drinks <br />
<br />
*Access to bathrooms <br />
<br />
*Access to a changing area that is clean, well lit, private, furnished with tables and/or chairs/stools. I.e a break room or conference room. A bathroom or storage closet is not acceptable.<br />
<br />
*Free or compensated parking that is close to the venue (less than 5 minutes walking distance) <br />
<br />
*A safe environment that is well maintained and well lit for our members to be featured or to interact with the public. <br />
<br />
*Handlers from within our own group to be present for the safety of our members. <br />
<br />
*Security to be handled by the venue or sponsor, not the Legion members. <br />
<br />
*We are unable to do skits/battles, or extensive choreography, appearances should be scripted with this restriction in mind.<br />
<br />
===Legion Support Personnel===<br />
Many of the costumes provided by the Legion membership have limited visibility and freedom of movement. As such it is common for the Legion to bring support personnel or ‘handlers’ to events. The handlers assist the costumed characters in dressing prior to the event and act as extra eyes and ears for the costumed characters. Our handlers are typically Legion members, family members, or potential new members who are working on achieving membership in the Legion. <br />
<br />
While handlers are there for the safety and security of the costumed characters the Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the security of the event.<br />
<br />
===Venue Relations:===<br />
The Sponsor is responsible for notifying and coordinating the event with local venue management, ownership and security. <br />
<br />
{|border=&quot;1&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br />
|Note in some commercial, common use and civil properties, i.e. malls, the venues or local jurisdictions forbid the wearing of masks or carrying of replica weapons in public. The appearance of costumed characters and the policy of the venue or local jurisdiction regarding prop weapons must be clarified and cleared by the sponsor not less than one week prior to the event.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The Sponsor agrees to allow full access to the performance venue and pre-performance facilities to the Legion members acting as costumed characters or handlers a minimum of one hour prior to the event. This requirement may be adjusted depending on the scope and scale of the event and a agreed upon by the Sponsor and the local Legion event coordinator.<br />
<br />
===Autographs and Photographs:===<br />
Autographs are often requested of the Legion members. It is the policy of the Legion to grant these requests. Members typically sign in a manor consistent with their character for example; TK-#### Storm Trooper or Darth Vader – SL-####. We cannot and will not require the purchase of an item to sign in order to grant an autograph. Items may be available, such as books, frames, etc. however the Sponsor agrees not to require the purchase of any item, coupon, ticket or token in order to obtain an autograph or photograph with a costumed character. Likewise the sponsor, if a charity agrees not to require a donation in order to receive an autograph or take a photograph with a costumed character.<br />
<br />
===Travel and Expenses:===<br />
If the event is a multi-garrison event or requires Legion Members to travel in excess of 50 miles the Sponsor may be asked to compensate the participating membership for travel expenses including but not limited to fuel, meals, lodging. The Sponsor may elect to provide travel, lodging and meals directly if they so choose.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Required Amenities:===<br />
*A Changing Facility<br />
*Access to restroom facilities<br />
*Bottled Water<br />
*Meal and snacks if the event is scheduled to run more than four hours.<br />
*Donations commiserate with the number of troopers and duration of the event in the name of the 501st Legion to a reputable charity.<br />
<br />
===Requested amenities:===<br />
*Clear clean tables in the changing facility<br />
*Chairs / Barstools <br />
<br />
In general a good rule of thumb would be one (1) 2’ x 6’ or 2’ x 8’ table with chairs for every 3 to 4 characters. Due to restricted mobility, most armored characters cannot sit down in their costumes. “Bar stools” are an excellent seat for Stormtroopers if they are available.<br />
<br />
===Nice Touches:===<br />
*Snacks or meals if the event is scheduled for more than two hours.<br />
*Event tickets or passes (musical, theatrical, film or exhibit events)<br />
*Access to non-public restroom facilities<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-06-11T14:39:20Z<p>Crimson: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is 'Star Wars', and, when in costume or otherwise act on behalf of the Legion, represent the 'Star Wars' brand and will do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and construction as required by the Legion, and wear it in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion.<br />
# Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique Operating Number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise.<br />
# Members are expected to comply with their respective applicable local, regional, and national laws.<br />
# The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority of the Legion Command and may not be superseded by any rules of any Legion subdivision. <br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
# Detachments are special resource groups that focus on a specific costume or costume category and are not bound by geography. <br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# Legion Commanding Officer (LCO): The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties.<br />
# Legion Executive Officer (LXO): The LXO assists the LCO in club operations as vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO.<br />
# Legion Captain of the Guard (LCOG): The LCOG interprets and enforces club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units.<br />
# Legion Membership Officer (LMO): The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume submissions. The LMO is the final arbiter of member costume issues and approvals. The LMO supervises and advises Detachments, Garrison Membership Liaisons, and Garrison Web Liaisons.<br />
# Legion Webmaster (LWM): The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters.<br />
# Legion Merchandising and Branding Officer (LMBO): The LMBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The LMBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution.<br />
# Legion Public Relations Officer (LPRO): The LPRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The LPRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the LPRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs.<br />
# Legion Charity Representative (LCR): The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR manages documentation of Legion charitable activities and may publish and promote the Legion's charity efforts to the membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot; <br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; AWAITING LEGION COUNCIL ACTION'''<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property.<br />
# Merchandise or materials created to promote or advertise the 501st Legion (referred to herein as &quot;merchandise&quot;) will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. Merchandise are not to be sold to the general public. All merchandise must meet Legion guidelines and approved by the Legion prior to production. Merchandise not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to members of the 501st Legion. Producing, distributing, or possessing unauthorized merchandise may be subject to corrective action by the Legion.<br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters.<br />
# Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion, or any other term or image that can be reasonably identified with the Legion or its sub-units are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the MBO prior to production. <br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
When the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and poor behavior. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. Disputes within any Legion subdivision are to be managed by the commander of the subdivision, unless the commander is involved in the dispute or there is any other clear conflict of interest on their part, in which case the dispute must be escalated to the Legion level.<br />
# Complaints should be directed by members to their immediate commander. The commander is responsible for mediating the dispute. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings.<br />
# The Legion COG must be notified prior to commencing any hearing at any level and be granted the option to observe the proceedings or be otherwise included in communications related to the hearing.<br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and conducts a meeting or hearing with the defendant and the commander of the defendant's unit. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of a unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative.<br />
# No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
# Following the resolution of a dispute, members may have the right to appeal the decision to the Legion COG within a specified timeframe. Any judgment by the Legion COG following an appeal is final. <br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
'''INCOMPLETE; IN COMMITTEE'''<br />
<br />
= Appendices =<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-06-11T14:34:15Z<p>Crimson: /* Article II: Mission */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is 'Star Wars', and, when in costume or otherwise act on behalf of the Legion, represent the 'Star Wars' brand and will do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and construction as required by the Legion, and wear it in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion. <br />
<br />
Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique Operating Number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise. <br />
<br />
The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority at the Legion level and may not be superseded by rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard. <br />
# Detachments are special resource groups specifically focusing on analyzing, researching, and compiling information about specific costumes. Detachments are not bound by geography. The goal of a detachment is to serve the needs of both 501st members and persons new to 'Star Wars' costuming who hope to join the 501st Legion. A detachment is chartered around a specific costume or family of costumes that share commonality.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# '''Legion Commanding Officer (LCO):''' The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties. <br />
# '''Legion Executive Officer (LXO):''' The LXO assist the LCO in club operations as a vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO. <br />
# '''Captain of the Guard (COG):''' The COG is the operations manager of the club Responsibilities include interpreting and enforcing club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units. <br />
# '''Legion Membership Officer (LMO):''' The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume subimissions. <br />
# '''Legion Webmaster (LWM):''' The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters. <br />
# '''Merchandising and Brand Officer (MBO):''' The MBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The MBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution. <br />
# '''Public Relations Officer (PRO):''' The PRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The PRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the PRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs. <br />
# '''Legion Charity Representative (LCR):''' The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR also collects, manages and reports documentation of Legion charitable activities. Along with the PRO the LCR may publish and promotes the Legions Charity efforts to the Legion Membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property. Consequently, it is agreed that whatever merchandise or promotional materials are created to advertise the 501st Legion will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. <br />
#*501st merchandise or promotional materials are not to be sold to the general public. <br />
#*All promotional materials must meet Legion guidelines before being approved for production. <br />
#*All materials not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to all members of the 501st Legion. <br />
#*Any member producing and/or distributing unauthorized Legion material will be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion. <br />
#*Members wearing unauthorized Legion materials at official events shall be directed to remove these items or be subject to disciplinary action. <br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters. <br />
# 501st Promotional Items Set of Standards. This set of standards includes any item, print, or paraphernalia that bears the 501st Legion name, logo, or URL. Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. <br />
#*Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the MBO prior to production. <br />
#*Proposed items must be free of vulgarity, free of copyrighted material as much as possible (including use of unmodified LFL photos or artwork), and not be tied to any outside commercial entity or venture without the express permission of LFL.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
# In situations where the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and injustice. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action. <br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. This process generally begins at the local unit level. Disputes within Squads or Detachments must be handled by the commander(s) of the disputing parties at the local level. Barring any involvement or clear conflict of interest on their part, commanders are expected to handle disciplinary issues within their units and not simply pass them on to the Legion to handle. <br />
# Any current member may bring a charge against another member of the Legion. Charges must be brought to the attention of their immediate commander, who should assess the validity of the charge and if founded, initiate an Administrative Action Record and take appropriate action. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings. <br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and holds a combined hearing with a panel comprised of officers from all involved units. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of the unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative. <br />
<br />
E. No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-06-11T14:33:34Z<p>Crimson: /* Article II: Mission */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Survival Guides]]<br />
=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
#. The 501st Legion is a Star Wars fan club dedicated to celebrating the Star Wars universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters.<br />
<br />
#. The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is 'Star Wars', and, when in costume or otherwise act on behalf of the Legion, represent the 'Star Wars' brand and will do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and construction as required by the Legion, and wear it in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion. <br />
<br />
Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique Operating Number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise. <br />
<br />
The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority at the Legion level and may not be superseded by rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard. <br />
# Detachments are special resource groups specifically focusing on analyzing, researching, and compiling information about specific costumes. Detachments are not bound by geography. The goal of a detachment is to serve the needs of both 501st members and persons new to 'Star Wars' costuming who hope to join the 501st Legion. A detachment is chartered around a specific costume or family of costumes that share commonality.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# '''Legion Commanding Officer (LCO):''' The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties. <br />
# '''Legion Executive Officer (LXO):''' The LXO assist the LCO in club operations as a vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO. <br />
# '''Captain of the Guard (COG):''' The COG is the operations manager of the club Responsibilities include interpreting and enforcing club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units. <br />
# '''Legion Membership Officer (LMO):''' The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume subimissions. <br />
# '''Legion Webmaster (LWM):''' The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters. <br />
# '''Merchandising and Brand Officer (MBO):''' The MBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The MBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution. <br />
# '''Public Relations Officer (PRO):''' The PRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The PRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the PRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs. <br />
# '''Legion Charity Representative (LCR):''' The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR also collects, manages and reports documentation of Legion charitable activities. Along with the PRO the LCR may publish and promotes the Legions Charity efforts to the Legion Membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property. Consequently, it is agreed that whatever merchandise or promotional materials are created to advertise the 501st Legion will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. <br />
#*501st merchandise or promotional materials are not to be sold to the general public. <br />
#*All promotional materials must meet Legion guidelines before being approved for production. <br />
#*All materials not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to all members of the 501st Legion. <br />
#*Any member producing and/or distributing unauthorized Legion material will be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion. <br />
#*Members wearing unauthorized Legion materials at official events shall be directed to remove these items or be subject to disciplinary action. <br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters. <br />
# 501st Promotional Items Set of Standards. This set of standards includes any item, print, or paraphernalia that bears the 501st Legion name, logo, or URL. Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. <br />
#*Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the MBO prior to production. <br />
#*Proposed items must be free of vulgarity, free of copyrighted material as much as possible (including use of unmodified LFL photos or artwork), and not be tied to any outside commercial entity or venture without the express permission of LFL.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
# In situations where the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and injustice. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action. <br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. This process generally begins at the local unit level. Disputes within Squads or Detachments must be handled by the commander(s) of the disputing parties at the local level. Barring any involvement or clear conflict of interest on their part, commanders are expected to handle disciplinary issues within their units and not simply pass them on to the Legion to handle. <br />
# Any current member may bring a charge against another member of the Legion. Charges must be brought to the attention of their immediate commander, who should assess the validity of the charge and if founded, initiate an Administrative Action Record and take appropriate action. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings. <br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and holds a combined hearing with a panel comprised of officers from all involved units. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of the unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative. <br />
<br />
E. No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
Revised {{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} {{REVISIONUSER}}</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/User:CrimsonUser:Crimson2011-05-04T17:12:26Z<p>Crimson: </p>
<hr />
<div>== Bio ==<br />
I am '''Jerome &quot;Rome&quot; Ohnui''' with Legion ID# 1800. I joined the 501st Legion in April of 2004 with a TIE Pilot costume. My first event was in May of '04 at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library. In January of 2005, I was elected as Squad Leader for the reformed Michigan Squad of the Midwest Garrison, and was named as the 2nd seat to the Legion Council to represent the Garrison. I served as a non-commissioned forum moderator (the only moderator to not hold a Legion office at the time) upon the Legion's move to a forum system from the Yahoo Groups message board.<br />
<br />
In 2006, I joined newly-elected Legion Commanding Officer ''Mark Fordham'' in his cabinet as the Legion Captain of the Guard. I served in this role for three terms, stepping down in 2009.<br />
<br />
I served as Detachment Leader of the Imperial Officer Corps for two terms, from 2009-10 to 2010-11, and declined to run again for the 2011-12 term. The new DL of IOC asked that I stay on as his executive officer.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
* Joined the 501st in April, 2004.<br />
* Michigan Squad Leader: 1/05 - 2/06.<br />
* Legion Captain of the Guard: 2/06 - 2/09.<br />
* Great Lakes Garrison Webmaster: 12/07 - ''present''<br />
* Imperial Officer Corps Detachment Leader: 3/09 - 3/11.<br />
* Imperial Officer Corps Detachment Executive Officer: 3/11 - ''present''<br />
* Legion Charter Review Committee Co-Chair: 3/11 - ''present''<br />
<br />
==Costumes==<br />
* TIE Pilot (sold)<br />
* Stormtrooper (sold)<br />
* Imperial Officer/black<br />
* Sandtrooper<br />
* Imperial Officer/green (unapproved)</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/User:CrimsonUser:Crimson2011-05-04T17:04:39Z<p>Crimson: Created page with &quot;==History== * Joined the 501st in April, 2004. * Michigan Squad Leader: 1/05 - 2/06. * Legion Captain of the Guard: 2/06 - 2/09. * Great Lakes Garrison Webmaster: 12/07 - ''prese...&quot;</p>
<hr />
<div>==History==<br />
* Joined the 501st in April, 2004.<br />
* Michigan Squad Leader: 1/05 - 2/06.<br />
* Legion Captain of the Guard: 2/06 - 2/09.<br />
* Great Lakes Garrison Webmaster: 12/07 - ''present''<br />
* Imperial Officer Corps Detachment Leader: 3/09 - 3/11.<br />
* Legion Charter Review Committee Co-Chair: 3/11 - ''present''<br />
<br />
==Costumes==<br />
* TIE Pilot (sold)<br />
* Stormtrooper (sold)<br />
* Imperial Officer/black<br />
* Sandtrooper<br />
* Imperial Officer/green (unapproved)</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-05-04T16:54:57Z<p>Crimson: /* Article X: Disciplinary Action */</p>
<hr />
<div>=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a 'Star Wars' fan club dedicated to celebrating the 'Star Wars' universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters. <br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in 'Star Wars' through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is 'Star Wars', and, when in costume or otherwise act on behalf of the Legion, represent the 'Star Wars' brand and will do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and construction as required by the Legion, and wear it in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion. <br />
<br />
Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique Operating Number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise. <br />
<br />
The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority at the Legion level and may not be superseded by rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard. <br />
# Detachments are special resource groups specifically focusing on analyzing, researching, and compiling information about specific costumes. Detachments are not bound by geography. The goal of a detachment is to serve the needs of both 501st members and persons new to 'Star Wars' costuming who hope to join the 501st Legion. A detachment is chartered around a specific costume or family of costumes that share commonality.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# '''Legion Commanding Officer (LCO):''' The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties. <br />
# '''Legion Executive Officer (LXO):''' The LXO assist the LCO in club operations as a vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO. <br />
# '''Captain of the Guard (COG):''' The COG is the operations manager of the club Responsibilities include interpreting and enforcing club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units. <br />
# '''Legion Membership Officer (LMO):''' The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume subimissions. <br />
# '''Legion Webmaster (LWM):''' The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters. <br />
# '''Merchandising and Brand Officer (MBO):''' The MBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The MBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution. <br />
# '''Public Relations Officer (PRO):''' The PRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The PRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the PRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs. <br />
# '''Legion Charity Representative (LCR):''' The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR also collects, manages and reports documentation of Legion charitable activities. Along with the PRO the LCR may publish and promotes the Legions Charity efforts to the Legion Membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property. Consequently, it is agreed that whatever merchandise or promotional materials are created to advertise the 501st Legion will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. <br />
#*501st merchandise or promotional materials are not to be sold to the general public. <br />
#*All promotional materials must meet Legion guidelines before being approved for production. <br />
#*All materials not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to all members of the 501st Legion. <br />
#*Any member producing and/or distributing unauthorized Legion material will be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion. <br />
#*Members wearing unauthorized Legion materials at official events shall be directed to remove these items or be subject to disciplinary action. <br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters. <br />
# 501st Promotional Items Set of Standards. This set of standards includes any item, print, or paraphernalia that bears the 501st Legion name, logo, or URL. Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. <br />
#*Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the MBO prior to production. <br />
#*Proposed items must be free of vulgarity, free of copyrighted material as much as possible (including use of unmodified LFL photos or artwork), and not be tied to any outside commercial entity or venture without the express permission of LFL.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
# In situations where the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and injustice. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action. <br />
# All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. This process generally begins at the local unit level. Disputes within Squads or Detachments must be handled by the commander(s) of the disputing parties at the local level. Barring any involvement or clear conflict of interest on their part, commanders are expected to handle disciplinary issues within their units and not simply pass them on to the Legion to handle. <br />
# Any current member may bring a charge against another member of the Legion. Charges must be brought to the attention of their immediate commander, who should assess the validity of the charge and if founded, initiate an Administrative Action Record and take appropriate action. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings. <br />
# In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and holds a combined hearing with a panel comprised of officers from all involved units. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of the unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative. <br />
<br />
E. No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)</div>Crimsonhttp://www.501st.com/databank/LegionCharterLegionCharter2011-05-04T16:54:41Z<p>Crimson: /* Article IX: Merchandise and Branding */</p>
<hr />
<div>=Legion Charter=<br />
<br />
'''NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT OPERATING GUIDELINES OF THE 501st LEGION.'''<br />
<br />
==Article I: Name==<br />
501st Legion (aka “the Legion”, “the 501st“, and “Vader’s Fist”)<br />
<br />
==Article II: Mission==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a 'Star Wars' fan club dedicated to celebrating the 'Star Wars' universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent its villainous characters. <br />
# The Legion seeks to promote interest in 'Star Wars' through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.<br />
<br />
==Article III: Representation==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion recognizes that members have no claim to the copyright and intellectual property of 'Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)' by the privilege authorized to the organization. Members acknowledge and accept that they by authorization represent the brand that is 'Star Wars', and, when in costume or otherwise act on behalf of the Legion, represent the 'Star Wars' brand and will do so courteously, professionally, and responsibly at all times.<br />
<br />
==Article IV: Membership==<br />
<br />
The 501st Legion is an inclusive, equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory club. Membership is open to persons 18 years or older who own a costume that meets with the standards of accuracy, completeness, and construction as required by the Legion, and wear it in accordance with the participation requirements as set forth by the Legion. <br />
<br />
Upon admission, a new member will be assigned a unique Operating Number. Two-letter code prefixes corresponding to approved costumes are associated with that number. The operating number is unique to the individual member and is non-transferable. Rights and privileges are granted to members according to their status as either active or otherwise. <br />
<br />
The right to grant, deny, revoke, or suspend membership is reserved by and under the sole authority at the Legion level and may not be superseded by rules of any Legion subdivision.<br />
<br />
==Article V: Organization==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a worldwide club organized into Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. A Legion Command level consisting of the Legion Commander (LCO), Legion Executive Officer (LXO), and an administrative staff coordinates the club. The Legion recognizes that most activities will be on the local level. For this reason, the Legion is divided into subdivisions based on geographical boundaries. The list and boundaries of Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts is maintained by the Captain of the Guard. <br />
# Detachments are special resource groups specifically focusing on analyzing, researching, and compiling information about specific costumes. Detachments are not bound by geography. The goal of a detachment is to serve the needs of both 501st members and persons new to 'Star Wars' costuming who hope to join the 501st Legion. A detachment is chartered around a specific costume or family of costumes that share commonality.<br />
# The Legion Council is a body made up of the Legion Command and representatives from each Garrison and Outpost. This council is moderated by the Legion Commander. Legion members may bring issues of contention or concern before the Council through their Council representatives, or in cases where their issues are with their Council representatives, through any other member of the Council (which includes Legion Command).<br />
<br />
==Article VI: Legion Officers==<br />
<br />
# '''Legion Commanding Officer (LCO):''' The LCO is the top administrator and president of the club. The LCO appoints an administrative staff to assist with club operations, which may include but are not limited to formulating policies, moderating the Legion Council, and organizing partnerships with outside parties. <br />
# '''Legion Executive Officer (LXO):''' The LXO assist the LCO in club operations as a vice-president. The LXO may perform duties as assigned by the LCO, and reserves the authority to act as club president in the absence of the LCO. <br />
# '''Captain of the Guard (COG):''' The COG is the operations manager of the club Responsibilities include interpreting and enforcing club rules, serving as an impartial mediator for disputes among members or officers, overseeing disciplinary hearings, moderating Legion elections, and maintaining the Legion map of units. <br />
# '''Legion Membership Officer (LMO):''' The LMO is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for membership and maintaining member information in the Legion database. The LMO drives costume policies, including acceptable costume types for membership and quality control of costume subimissions. <br />
# '''Legion Webmaster (LWM):''' The LWM manages all Legion Web resources and advises unit Webmasters. <br />
# '''Merchandising and Brand Officer (MBO):''' The MBO oversees all Legion merchandise operations, including those of local units. The MBO ensures that all merchandise projects adhere to rules and guidelines that govern use of images, pricing, and distribution. <br />
# '''Public Relations Officer (PRO):''' The PRO serves as the Legion's advocate and primary point of contact with the public and outside parties. The PRO serves as the executive editor of all Legion publications and multimedia productions. The office of the PRO also serves as the primary point of contact for celebrities and VIPs. <br />
# '''Legion Charity Representative (LCR):''' The LCR serves as the Legion's primary point of contact with outside charitable organizations. The LCR also collects, manages and reports documentation of Legion charitable activities. Along with the PRO the LCR may publish and promotes the Legions Charity efforts to the Legion Membership and the public.<br />
# Collectively, the officers listed here are referred to as &quot;Legion Command.&quot;<br />
<br />
==Article VII: Elections==<br />
<br />
==Article VIII: Policies and Amendments==<br />
<br />
==Article IX: Merchandise and Branding==<br />
<br />
# The 501st Legion is a club based on a copyrighted property and is not authorized to profit from the sales of merchandise bearing images or ideas from the Star Wars property. Consequently, it is agreed that whatever merchandise or promotional materials are created to advertise the 501st Legion will be sold only to members of the Legion and at cost. <br />
#*501st merchandise or promotional materials are not to be sold to the general public. <br />
#*All promotional materials must meet Legion guidelines before being approved for production. <br />
#*All materials not abiding by these guidelines will be considered unauthorized and forbidden to all members of the 501st Legion. <br />
#*Any member producing and/or distributing unauthorized Legion material will be subject to disciplinary action by the Legion. <br />
#*Members wearing unauthorized Legion materials at official events shall be directed to remove these items or be subject to disciplinary action. <br />
# The Legion does not endorse or manage the creation of props, costumes, or materials by anyone for sale to others. Any items created are for the express use of the creator. The Legion will not intervene in private sales transactions of non-Legion merchandise or products. Legion rules do not extend to any disputes related to these matters. <br />
# 501st Promotional Items Set of Standards. This set of standards includes any item, print, or paraphernalia that bears the 501st Legion name, logo, or URL. Any items bearing the words &quot;501st Legion&quot;, &quot;Fighting 501st&quot;, &quot;Vader's Fist&quot;, the 501st Logo, URLs, or those of any sub-units of the Legion are considered representative of the 501st Legion club. <br />
#*Proposals for such items are to be reviewed by the Merchandising and Branding Officer, and approval must be granted by the MBO prior to production. <br />
#*Proposed items must be free of vulgarity, free of copyrighted material as much as possible (including use of unmodified LFL photos or artwork), and not be tied to any outside commercial entity or venture without the express permission of LFL.<br />
<br />
==Article X: Disciplinary Action==<br />
<br />
A. In situations where the Legion's standards of conduct are violated, it is an unfortunate necessity to address them. While the Legion recognizes that membership is voluntary and should be fun, it also recognizes that there must be some protection afforded its members from abuse and injustice. To this end, the Legion adheres to the following prescription for disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
B. All commanders are expected to enforce the rules of the Legion in their respective jurisdictions. Any member behaving in an unacceptable manner or violating the tenets of Legion rules is subject to disciplinary action. This process generally begins at the local unit level. Disputes within Squads or Detachments must be handled by the commander(s) of the disputing parties at the local level. Barring any involvement or clear conflict of interest on their part, commanders are expected to handle disciplinary issues within their units and not simply pass them on to the Legion to handle. <br />
<br />
C. Any current member may bring a charge against another member of the Legion. Charges must be brought to the attention of their immediate commander, who should assess the validity of the charge and if founded, initiate an Administrative Action Record and take appropriate action. This action may take the form of an informal meeting between the parties, up to formal hearings. <br />
<br />
D. In the event a conflict or complaint involves members of different units, the commander of the primary plaintiff serves as the presiding officer and holds a combined hearing with a panel comprised of officers from all involved units. If one of the parties involved in a dispute is an officer of the unit, the hearing will be overseen by the Legion COG or a designated representative. <br />
<br />
E. No member may be removed from the Legion without the knowledge and approval of Legion Command.<br />
<br />
==Article XI: By Laws==<br />
<br />
== Appendix A: Officers and Elections==<br />
===General Elections===<br />
===Recall Elections===<br />
===Special Elections===<br />
<br />
==Appendix B: Membership Definitions==<br />
<br />
===Active Membership Definition===<br />
An Active Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st Membership Requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion Membership Database <br />
*Maintains active contact with their Garrison CO or GML. Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion database either through their Garrison CO or GML. <br />
*Participates in at least ONE Garrison or Legion activity per year while wearing an approved 501st costume owned by said member as recorded in the Legion Census. One year is defined as the period from Legion Census to Legion Census. Examples of an activity include, but are not limited to conventions, charity events, or any activity designated as an official event by a coordinating administrative unit of the Legion. <br />
*Members who serve in military branches are exempt from activity level requirements if their service renders them unable to meet these requirements. <br />
<br />
These Minimum Activity Level Requirements should be administered as justly and with as much common sense as possible. <br />
<br />
====An Active Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in polls of the Active Membership. <br />
*Vote in local and legion elections. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events as designated or allowed by their unit leader. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
<br />
===Reserve Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Reserve Member is defined as a member in good standing who meets the following requirements: <br />
*Meets all 501st membership requirements (i.e. ownership of an approved costume, is over 18 years of age, etc). <br />
*Has an approved membership record in the 501st Legion membership database <br />
*Maintains active contact with his/her Garrison CO or designated representative (GML). Active contact and participation will be confirmed during the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Maintains their contact information/membership record in the 501st Legion Database (either through their Garrison CO or their designated representative (Garrison Membership Liaison). <br />
*Participates in a supporting* role for the Garrison or Legion at least once per year. One year is defined, at the discretion of the unit leader, as a rolling or census-to-census 12-month window from last troop so, for example, a member trooping on June 30 will have to troop on or before June 30 the following year to be considered active. <br />
<br />
Examples of supporting activities include, but are not limited to the following: event planning, armor parties, out-of-costume event help, and/or any other administrative functions to be approved by their unit leader as qualifying activities or contributions. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have limited access on 501st.com &amp; Legion forums. <br />
*Have access to Garrison/Outpost planning forums and public or semi-private discussion areas at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have access to Detachment forums. <br />
*Have a picture and/or profile displayed on the 501st membership and costume designation pages, marked with a &quot;Reserve Duty&quot; indicator. <br />
<br />
====A Reserve Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Participate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader.<br />
<br />
=== Retired Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Retired Member is defined as a member in good standing who (one or more of the following): <br />
*Does not have an active costume or does not own a 501st approved costume. <br />
*Does not maintain active contact with his/her Outpost CO, Garrison CO or GML, nor participate in the annual Legion Census held each year during the month of October. <br />
*Has been listed as Reserve Duty for more than 12 consecutive months, and has not actively contributed to the legion via a non-costumed activity during that time. <br />
*Is otherwise not able to simply troop. <br />
*Leaves the Legion voluntarily. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Retain a displayable legion profile with .Retired. indicator. <br />
*Return to active status via a written request, re-approval of their costume, and completion of or immediately pending completion of a troop. <br />
*Have their membership information and ID number saved/maintained in the 501st Legion database with the member from cradle-to-grave, unless otherwise reassigned by a judgment of the Legion Council through a 2/3 majority vote of the Legion Council members. <br />
<br />
====A Retired Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Buy or create merchandise. <br />
*Coordinate official 501st events. <br />
*Particpate in limited access events or requests. <br />
*Access main legion forums. <br />
*Access unit members-only forums. This is reserved for active members who meet the requirements of active membership at the discretion of the unit leader. <br />
*Have their picture posted in the 501st.com membership section. <br />
<br />
===Suspended Membership Definition:===<br />
A Suspended Member is defined as a member in poor standing as imposed by a governing unit leader or Legion officer during, or as the result of, a disciplinary action, administrative action or investigation. <br />
This status is meant to be temporary, pending either a return to active status or a change to Discharged status. <br />
All event, forum, merchandise, voting, polling, administrative, election, and membership privileges are suspended, pending the outcome or any proceedings that were the catalyst for said status change, or at the end of the duration of the suspension that is established by said hearing. <br />
<br />
===Discharged Membership Definition: ===<br />
A Discharged Member is defined as a member in poor standing who has been removed from the legion based upon disciplinary proceedings or criminal offense or a member who leaves deliberately to avoid the loss of good standing or to avoid administrative or disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
====A Discharged Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in any 501st Legion poll or election. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st Legion (including Detachment Leadership). <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise. <br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com. <br />
*Coordinate/host official 501st events. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events. <br />
*Have access to the 501st Legion message boards and applicable unit boards. <br />
Members who are discharged shall have a record of the discharge noted in members profile. <br />
<br />
===In Memoriam Membership Definition: ===<br />
An In Memoriam Member is defined as a member in good standing that has passed away. <br />
<br />
====An In Memoriam member will have: ====<br />
*Their identification number preserved and not reissued. <br />
*Their profiles, minus contact information, displayed perpetually on the 501st.com Eternal Legionnaires page. <br />
<br />
===Honorary Member Definition:=== <br />
Honorary Members are special members who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way and have been recognized by the Legion for their efforts and contributions while working on the Star Wars universe. <br />
<br />
Honorary members must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====An Honorary Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st. <br />
<br />
===Friend of the Legion Member Definition: ===<br />
Friends of the Legion are Individuals or organizations who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st Legion and Star Wars fandom are eligible to become Friends of the Legion. <br />
<br />
Friends of the Legion must be nominated by an active 501st member to the Legion through a Garrison, or Detachment. <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is eligible to: ====<br />
*Have their picture and/or profile displayed on 501st.com in the honorary membership section. <br />
*Participate in official 501st events (i.e. charity benefits, celebrity appearances, guest escorts, etc). <br />
*Have access to the 501st legion message boards and applicable unit messages boards. <br />
*Purchase official 501st/member-only merchandise (i.e. t-shirts, cards, badges, etc.) that are offered only to 501st members <br />
<br />
====A Friend of the Legion Member is NOT eligible to: ====<br />
*Vote in unit or legion polls or elections. <br />
*Run for office or accept an officer or administrative position. <br />
*Run for and/or hold elected or appointed offices in the 501st.<br />
<br />
==Appendix C: Code of Conduct==<br />
===Hearing Procedures===<br />
<br />
====Administrative Leave====<br />
<br />
In order to protect the Legion and its membership from involvement in real-world legal proceedings, the Legion will not be involved in any legal action between or involving members and may take action necessary to protect the safety of the Legion and the membership. Any such actions will be at the discretion of the Captain of the Guard with the consent of the Legion Commanding Officer and may include placing members on temporary Administrative Leave and suspending Legion Hearings until such real-world legal proceedings are complete. <br />
<br />
Administrative leave will be the functional equivalent of “Retired Status” and will end when the member has finished their involvement in the legal proceedings. Once returned to active status, the member will have six months grace period to troop if they wish to remain on active status. <br />
<br />
The use of Administrative Leave is not intended to impact a member’s status negatively or permanently and is only meant to be used as a temporary action to protect the Legion and its membership from undue involvement in legal proceedings.<br />
<br />
(Council Resolution May, 2011)</div>Crimson